Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Generating Reference Geocodes for Point Addresses

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for generating a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude point, for each of a plurality of point addresses. A reference location data set can be determined for a point address based on a history of prior geocode samples, such as GPS readings, that have been obtained using a portable computing device during a prior delivery to or pickup from the point address. A location data service collects such geocode samples and processes the samples to generate a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude and a zone of confidence around the reference longitude and latitude, for each unique point address. To determine whether an item is being delivered to a wrong address, current location data obtained during a delivery can be compared against the reference location data generated by the location data service for the delivery address.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/735,030 filed Apr. 13, 2007, which is herebyincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to systems andmethods for generating reference geocode information for a plurality ofpoint addresses, and, more particularly, to systems that capture samplegeocodes during the delivery or pickup of an item to or from a pointaddress and use the sample geocodes to generate a reference geocode forthe point address.

BACKGROUND OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Accounting for the tremendous volume of goods flowing through atransportation system on a daily basis creates a significant logisticalchallenge. As a result, tracking and visibility systems play an integralpart in most transportation systems by allowing both customers andtransportation personnel to track the flow of goods. However, despitethe existence of such prior art systems, items flowing through atransportation system are, on occasion, still delivered to a locationlater than expected, mis-delivered to an incorrect address, and evenlost (or stolen) somewhere along the way. These and other such mishapscan be particularly troubling when the item being shipped is considereda “high-value” item, based on either its relative importance to theshipper or on its raw economic value. Examples of high-value items caninclude shipments of diamonds, computer chips, cars or sensitivedocuments, to name just a few.

For the most part, item tracking services known in the art are passivein the sense that they are generally not designed to address the typesof problems discussed above. For example, if an item is delivered to anaddress different from where it was shipped, such as may occur when anitem is delivered to the correct street but the wrong number, to thewrong street but the correct number, or to the wrong street and thewrong number, such a problem may go undetected until a shipper orconsignee calls to inquire about the whereabouts of the item. By then,however, a substantial amount of time may have passed during whichtransportation and security personnel could have been looking into theproblem. This delay often reduces the likelihood of being able tocorrect the problem. For example, in some cases, a consignee whoactually received the mis-delivered item may later deny having everreceived it.

Furthermore, while it may sometimes be possible to ship an item viaspecial shipping channels that incorporate more stringent securitymeasures, doing so may not always be desirable. For example, by shippingthe item via special shipping channels, the shipper may in effect beidentifying the item to would-be criminals as a high-value item. Thus,in some cases, it may actually be safer to ship the item via standardmeans so that the item does not stand out as an item of particular valuein the various shipping yards, hub locations and other transport points,which the item is likely to pass through.

Therefore, an unsatisfied need exists in the industry for improvedsystems and methods for monitoring whether an item is properly deliveredto a designated delivery point that overcomes deficiencies in the priorart, some of which are discussed above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, andcomputer program products for generating a reference location data set,such as a reference longitude and latitude point, for each of aplurality of point addresses. A reference location data set can bedetermined for a point address based on a history of prior geocodesamples, such as GPS readings, that have been obtained using a portablecomputing device during a prior delivery to or pickup from the pointaddress. A location data service collects such geocode samples andprocesses the samples to generate a reference location data set, such asa reference longitude and latitude and a zone of confidence around thereference longitude and latitude, for each unique point address. Todetermine whether an item is being delivered to a wrong address, currentlocation data, such as a GPS reading, obtained during a delivery can becompared to the reference location data generated by the location dataservice for the delivery address.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided forgenerating reference location data for a plurality of unique pointaddresses. The method includes receiving a plurality of geocode samplesassociated with a unique point address. Each geocode sample includeslocation data captured during a delivery or a pickup of an itemaddressed to or from the unique point address. The method also includescomputing a reference geocode for the unique point address based on atleast some of the plurality of geocode samples. In one embodiment, themethod includes determining whether an item addressed to the uniquepoint address is being delivered to an incorrect location by comparing acurrent geocode reading taken proximate a point of delivery to thereference geocode associated with the unique point address.

In one embodiment, the method may include computing a zone of confidencearound the reference geocode. The zone of confidence may include acircle of confidence with the reference geocode at the circle's center.

In one embodiment, the plurality of geocode samples and the referencegeocode each include longitude and latitude data. For example, theplurality of geocode samples may be made up of Global Positioning System(GPS) records captured by a GPS sensor during the delivery or the pickupof an item addressed to or from the unique point address. In thisregard, computing the reference geocode based on the plurality ofgeocode samples may involve calculating a reference latitude and areference longitude using the latitude and longitude data of at leastsome of the plurality of geocode samples.

In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of geocode samples iscaptured in response to a predefined trigger event associated with thedelivery or pickup process. For example, a geocode sample may becaptured by a portable device during the delivery or pickup in responseto a predefined trigger event recognized by the device. The predefinedtrigger event may include, for example, an item scan event, anelectronic signature capture event, an input to the portable deviceindicating that the item has been left at the current location, and/oran input or event that indicates to the device that the delivery orpickup of the item is now complete. The method also may involveassigning relative weights to the plurality of geocode samples based onthe type of trigger event associated with each geocode sample, theweights generally providing an indication of the assumed accuracy of thegeocode sample based on predefined rules.

In one embodiment, the method involves weighting at least some of theplurality of geocode samples relative to each other based on one or morepredefined rules and then computing a mean latitude and a mean longitudeby using the relative weights of the plurality of geocode samples tocompute a weighted average of the latitude and longitude data associatedwith at least some of the plurality of geocode samples. In oneembodiment where the geocode samples are recorded by a geocode sensor ofa portable computing device, where the geocode sensor senses geocodeinformation from a geocode system, and where the portable computingdevice captures a geocode sample by recording the sensed geocodeinformation in response to at least one predefined trigger eventoccurring during the delivery or pickup, the method involves weightingat least some of the geocode samples relative to each other based on anamount of time between when the geocode sensor sensed the geocodeinformation and when the trigger event occurred.

In one embodiment, computing the reference geocode based on theplurality of geocode samples involves ignoring geocode samples that areassociated with an indication that the delivery or the pickup wasunsuccessful.

In one embodiment, the method includes running a nearest neighboralgorithm to eliminate outlying geocode samples from the plurality ofgeocode samples. In this regard, computing the reference geocode basedon the plurality of geocode samples may involve ignoring outlyinggeocode samples from the plurality of geocode samples, and averaging theremaining geocode samples of the plurality of geocode samples in orderto generate a mean-location-without-outliers point for the unique pointaddress. Ignoring outlying geocode samples may involve generating, foreach geocode sample, a measure of the density of other geocode sampleslocated in an area around the geocode sample, and determining outlyinggeocode samples from the plurality of geocode samples based on themeasure of the density. Generating, for each geocode sample, a measureof density may involve computing a sum of the squares of the distancesbetween the geocode sample and each of at least some of the othergeocode samples.

In one embodiment, the process of computing the reference geocode basedon the plurality of geocode samples involves averaging the plurality ofgeocode samples in order to generate a mean location point. The processmay further involve computing a mean distance by averaging the distancesthat each geocode sample is from the mean location point. The processmay also involve ignoring geocode samples of the plurality of geocodesamples that are a greater distance from the mean location point than afactor of the computed mean distance, and then averaging any non-ignoredgeocode samples in order to generate the reference geocode. In oneembodiment, where the method further includes generating a circle ofconfidence, the reference geocode may be used as the center of thecircle of confidence. The radius of the circle of confidence may begenerated by providing a predefined base radius and adding the baseradius to the product of the mean distance and a predefined radius scalefactor.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system forgenerating reference location data for a plurality of unique pointaddresses. The system may include a geocode sample receiving moduleconfigured to receive a plurality of geocode samples associated with aunique point address. In general, each geocode sample is been capturedduring a delivery or a pickup of an item addressed to or from the uniquepoint address. The system may also include a reference location datagenerating system configured to compute a reference geocode for theunique point address based on the plurality of geocode samples. Thereference location data generating system may be further configured tocompute a zone of confidence around the reference geocode.

In one embodiment, where at least one of the plurality of geocodesamples was captured in response to a predefined trigger eventassociated with the delivery or pickup process, the reference locationdata generating system may be configured to compute the referencegeocode by weighting the plurality of geocode samples based on the typeof trigger event associated with each geocode sample.

In one embodiment, the reference location data generating system isconfigured to compute the reference geocode by ignoring geocode samplesthat are associated with an indication that the delivery or the pickupwas unsuccessful.

In an embodiment where each geocode sample comprises latitude andlongitude data, the reference location data generating system mayinclude an algorithm module configured to compute the reference geocodeby calculating a reference latitude and a reference longitude using thelatitude and longitude data of at least some of the plurality of geocodesamples.

In one embodiment, the geocode samples are recorded by a geocode sensorof a portable computing device, the geocode sensor being configured tosense geocode information from a geocode system. In such an embodiment,the portable computing device may be configured to capture a geocodesample by recording the sensed geocode information in response to atleast one predefined trigger event occurring during the delivery orpickup. The reference location data generating system may then include abusiness logic module configured to weight at least some of the geocodesamples relative to each other based on an amount of time between whenthe geocode sensor sensed the geocode information and when the triggerevent occurred.

In one embodiment, the reference location data generating systemincludes a business logic module configured to weight at least some ofthe plurality of geocode samples relative to each other based on one ormore predefined rules. In such an embodiment, the reference locationdata generating system may further include an algorithm moduleconfigured to compute a mean latitude and a mean longitude by using therelative weights of the plurality of geocode samples to compute aweighted average of the latitude and longitude data associated with atleast some of the plurality of geocode samples.

In one embodiment, the reference location data generating systemincludes an algorithm module configured to run a nearest neighboralgorithm to eliminate outlying geocode samples from the plurality ofgeocode samples. In this regard, the algorithm module may be configuredto ignore outlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocodesamples, and then average the remaining geocode samples of the pluralityof geocode samples in order to generate a mean-location-without-outlierspoint for the unique point address. The algorithm module may be furtherconfigured to generate, for each geocode sample, a measure of thedensity of other geocode samples located in an area around the geocodesample, and then determine outlying geocode samples from the pluralityof geocode samples based on the measure of the density. The algorithmmodule may be further configured to compute a sum of the squares of thedistances between a geocode sample and each of at least some of theother geocode samples, and then use the sum to generate the measure ofthe density for the geocode sample.

In one embodiment, the reference location data generating systemincludes an algorithm module configured to: average the plurality ofgeocode samples in order to generate a mean location point; compute amean distance by averaging the distances that each geocode sample isfrom the mean location point; ignore geocode samples of the plurality ofgeocode samples that are a greater distance from the mean location pointthan a factor of the computed mean distance; and average any non-ignoredgeocode samples in order to generate the reference geocode. In such anembodiment, the algorithm module may be further configured to: use thereference geocode as the center of a circle of confidence; and compute aradius of the circle of confidence by providing a predefined base radiusand adding the base radius to the product of the mean distance and apredefined radius scale factor.

The reference location data generating system may include: a get datamodule configured to reformat geocode sample data received by thegeocode sample receiving module; a business logic module configured toapply predefined business logic rules to the geocode sample data inorder to generate a weighted database of geocode samples, each geocodesample weighted based on the predefined business logic rules; analgorithm module configured to apply statistical algorithms to theplurality of weighted geocode samples in order to generate the referencegeocode; and/or a communication module for providing reference data toone or more other systems.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer programproduct for generating reference location data for a plurality of uniquepoint addresses. The computer program product includes at least onecomputer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program codelogic stored therein. In one embodiment, the computer-readable programcode logic includes: a first code logic configured for receiving aplurality of geocode samples associated with a unique point address;each geocode sample captured during a delivery or a pickup of an itemaddressed to or from the unique point address; and a second code logicconfigured for computing a reference geocode for the unique pointaddress based on the plurality of geocode samples. The computer programproduct may further include code logic configured for computing a zoneof confidence around the reference geocode. The computer program productmay include code logic configured for ignoring geocode samples that areassociated with an indication that the delivery or the pickup wasunsuccessful.

In embodiments where the geocode samples are captured in response to oneof a plurality of types of trigger events associated with the deliveryor pickup process, the computer program product may include code logicconfigured for weighting the plurality of geocode samples based on thetype of trigger event associated with each geocode sample.

In embodiments where each geocode sample includes latitude and longitudedata, the computer program product may further include code logicconfigured for calculating a reference latitude and a referencelongitude using the latitude and longitude data of at least some of theplurality of geocode samples.

In one embodiment, the geocode samples are recorded by a geocode sensorof a portable computing device in response to at least one predefinedtrigger event occurring during the delivery or pickup, the geocodesensor being configured to sense geocode information from a geocodesystem. In such an embodiment, the computer program product may includecode logic configured for weighting at least some of the geocode samplesrelative to each other based on an amount of time between when thegeocode sensor sensed the geocode information and when the trigger eventoccurred.

In an embodiment where each of the geocode samples include latitude andlongitude data, the computer program product may further include: codelogic configured for weighting at least some of the plurality of geocodesamples relative to each other based on one or more predefined rules;and code logic configured for computing a mean latitude and a meanlongitude by using the relative weights of the plurality of geocodesamples to compute a weighted average of the latitude and longitude dataassociated with at least some of the plurality of geocode samples.

In one embodiment, the computer program product includes code logicconfigured for running a nearest neighbor algorithm to eliminateoutlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocode samples. In thisregard, the computer program product may include code logic configuredfor ignoring outlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocodesamples; and code logic configured for averaging the remaining geocodesamples of the plurality of geocode samples in order to generate amean-location-without-outliers point for the unique point address. Thecomputer program product may further include code logic configured forgenerating, for each geocode sample, a measure of the density of othergeocode samples located in an area around the geocode sample; and codelogic configured for determining outlying geocode samples from theplurality of geocode samples based on the measure of the density. Thecode logic configured for computing a measure of density for a geocodesample may include code logic configured for computing a sum of thesquares of the distances between the geocode sample and each of at leastsome of the other geocode samples.

In one embodiment, the computer program product includes: code logicconfigured for averaging the plurality of geocode samples in order togenerate a mean location point; code logic configured for computing amean distance by averaging the distances that each geocode sample isfrom the mean location point; code logic configured for ignoring geocodesamples of the plurality of geocode samples that are a greater distancefrom the mean location point than a factor of the computed meandistance; and code logic configured for averaging any non-ignoredgeocode samples in order to generate the reference geocode. In such anembodiment, the computer program product may further include: code logicconfigured for using the reference geocode as the center of a circle ofconfidence; and code logic configured for computing a radius of thecircle of confidence by providing a predefined base radius and addingthe base radius to the product of the mean distance and a predefinedradius scale factor.

Embodiments of the computer program product may further include codelogic configured for communicating reference location data to one ormore remote systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a high level block diagram of a delivery monitoring systemthat can be used for detecting whether an item is being delivered to thewrong address in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a graphical illustration of how the delivery monitoringsystem of FIG. 1 can be used to detect the occurrence of mis-deliveriesalong a package delivery route in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows a graphical illustration of how the portable computingdevice of FIG. 1 can be used to collect location data and processmis-delivery data at a delivery location in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a high level block diagram of the delivery managementsystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 shows a high level block diagram of the portable computing deviceof FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6B show a process flow diagram that illustrates the steps fordetermining whether a potential mis-delivery may be occurring at adelivery stop in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates three exemplary display views that may be displayedon the portable computing device of FIG. 1 in response to positive,neutral, and negative mis-delivery feedback events in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary map-type display view that may bedisplayed on the portable computing device of FIG. 1 as feedback inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the location data service of FIG. 4 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface of thelocation data service control panel of FIG. 9 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a process flow diagram that illustrates the process ofusing geocode samples to generate reference location data sets inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 provides a flow diagram that illustrates the process ofproviding reference location data to remote requesting entities inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13B show a flow diagram that illustrates the process executedby the business logic module of FIG. 9 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a flow diagram that illustrates the process executed bythe OR algorithm module of FIG. 9 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 15 shows a flow diagram that illustrates the process executed bythe OR algorithm module when it runs the nearest neighbor algorithmmentioned in FIG. 14, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram that illustrates the process executed bythe OR algorithm module when it runs the COC algorithm mentioned in FIG.14, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allembodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention is described below with reference to blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (i.e.,systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the block diagramsand flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implementedby computer program instructions. These computer program instructionsmay be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine,such that the instructions which execute on the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus create means for implementing thefunctions specified in the system or flowchart blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, andprogram instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

A. Delivery Monitoring System

FIG. 1 shows a high level block diagram of a delivery monitoring system10 that can be used for detecting whether an item is being delivered tothe wrong address. In recent years, the delivery of mail, packages,shipments and other such items has been assisted by portable handhelddevices that maintain address and delivery related data. Such portabledevices have been used by delivery companies to hold delivery manifestsfor a driver associated with the portable device and to allow the driverto scan barcode labels, RFID tags, or other machine-readable labelsassociated with the delivery items. For example, UPS drivers havecarried a delivery information acquisition device (DIAD) unit since theearly 1990's. Since its introduction, UPS drivers have used the DIADunit to collect package information. Recent versions of the DIAD unitare equipped with cellular and wireless radios and thereby allow thetransmission of package data directly between the DIAD unit and thecentral storage facility.

The inclusion of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers in suchportable devices further provides the ability to maintain and processlocation data, such as latitude and longitude data, for locations towhich items are delivered (or picked up). Accordingly, in one embodimentof the present invention, a portable computing device 30 can be used todetermine whether an item is being delivered to the wrong address by,for example, comparing a current GPS reading with a reference geocode(e.g., a reference latitude and longitude location) associated with thedesignated delivery address. As used herein, a geocode refers to a codeor other indicator that can be used to indicate a location in geographicspace. For example, a geocode may indicate a location by specifying thelatitude and longitude of the location. In this regard, in one example,the geocode may include a GPS record. In one embodiment, if the distancebetween the current GPS reading and the reference geocode exceeds apredefined threshold, i.e., if delivery of the item appears to beoccurring outside of a predefined zone of confidence around thereference geocode, then the portable computing device 30 can beconfigured to notify the driver that a potential mis-delivery may beoccurring.

To achieve this capability, processes implemented in accordance withembodiments of the present invention include developing a referencelocation data set (e.g., a reference geocode and/or a zone ofconfidence) for each point address to which an item may be delivered.

In one embodiment, this can be accomplished by using the portablecomputing device 30 to gather geocode samples, such as GPS readings, ateach delivery or pickup address over a period of time. This data canthen be uploaded to a delivery management system 20, which, after anappropriate number of geocode samples, processes the sample data andcreates a reference location data set for each delivery address. Such areference location data set may include a reference geocode (e.g., areference latitude and longitude) and related metrics (e.g., informationdefining a zone of confidence about the reference geocode). Thereference location data set for each delivery address in a deliverymanifest can then be downloaded to the portable computing device 30 foruse in detecting mis-deliveries, as described above.

Thus, at a high level, the architecture shown in FIG. 1 involvescreating a pipeline for geocode samples (e.g., GPS readings) to flowfrom the portable computing device 30 to the delivery management system20 and for reference location data (i.e., reference geocodes and relatedmetrics) to flow back to the portable computing device 30 for use indetecting the occurrence of mis-deliveries. The general concept is tocreate a repository of geocode samples and reference location data setsand associate this location data with a point address (e.g., a potentialdelivery location). Then, as a unit of work (UOW) manifest (e.g., adelivery manifest) is created for the portable computing device 30, asis commonly done in the package delivery industry, the appropriatereference location data set (e.g., a reference geocode and relatedmetrics) can be attached to each UOW for use in detecting whether anitem (e.g., a letter, package, shipment, etc.) is being delivered to thewrong address.

FIG. 2 shows a graphical illustration of how the delivery monitoringsystem 10 of FIG. 1 can be used to detect the occurrence ofmis-deliveries along a package delivery route, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that whilecertain aspects of embodiments of the present invention may be describedin the context of a package delivery system, one of ordinary skill inthe art will readily recognize that the monitoring systems describedherein would be equally advantageous with other types of deliverysystems as well. In FIG. 2, a delivery vehicle 60 is shown transportingitems 62 (e.g., packages) from a delivery center 64 to a plurality ofdesignated delivery points 66 located along a delivery route 68. Toassist in the delivery of such items, the driver of the delivery vehicle60 carries a portable computing device 30 (or other such device) thatmaintains address and delivery data. As mentioned above, the portablecomputing device 30 can be configured to collect and process locationdata for use in determining whether an item is being delivered to thewrong address.

More specifically, the portable computing device 30 can be configured tocollect geocode samples (e.g., GPS readings) when the device recognizesthe occurrence of one or more predefined trigger events. Such predefinedtrigger events may include, but are not limited to: (1) the firstpackage scan event for a stop; (2) an electronic signature captureevent; (3) an input to the device indicating that the driver has left aparticular package at the current location (e.g., without capturing asignature); (4) an input or event that indicates to the device that thecurrent stop is now complete; and/or (5) an input specificallyinstructing the device to capture a geocode sample. Thus, at eachdesignated delivery stop 66, one or more geocode samples, e.g., GPSreadings, may be taken by the portable device 30 in response torespective trigger events. As mentioned above, the newly capturedgeocode samples can be stored and, at some point, uploaded to thedelivery management system 20 for use in generating a reference locationdata set (e.g., a reference geocode and/or a zone of confidence) foreach such point address. For example, the delivery management system 20may be configured to calculate a reference geocode for an address, thereference geocode including the mean latitude and mean longitude of thegeocode samples associated with that address. The reference locationdata set assigned to each address can then be used to provide feedbackto the driver (or a remote monitoring system) on whether or not apotential mis-delivery may be occurring at a delivery stop. In oneembodiment, this can be accomplished by determining whether delivery (orpickup) of an item is occurring within a zone of confidence, which, inone embodiment, may be circle of confidence 70, defined about thereference longitude and latitude assigned to the address.

FIG. 3 shows a graphical illustration of how the portable computingdevice 30 of FIG. 1 can be used to collect and process mis-delivery dataat a delivery location 66 in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the circle ofconfidence 70 shown around the reference latitude and longitude 71 forthe delivery address defines an area or zone within which delivery ofthe item 62 is considered acceptable (i.e., if delivery occurs withinthis zone, it is assumed that the item is being delivered to the correctaddress). It may be seen that, in the illustrated embodiment, the zoneof confidence (e.g., the circle of confidence 70) may be circular.However, in other embodiments, a non-circular shaped zone of confidencecould be used if logistically appropriate. Different shapes can beachieved by, for example, defining appropriate metrics in associationwith the reference geocode assigned to the current delivery address. Insome cases, this may allow the monitoring system 10 to provide a moreprecise determination of whether or not delivery of the item 62 isoccurring “on” or “off” the property. It should therefore be understoodthat it is not critical that the zone of confidence 70 described hereinbe circular in all cases, but rather can take a variety of shapes(square, rectangular, irregular, etc.) to adapt to the needs of aparticular application.

When the driver of the delivery vehicle 60 arrives at a location wherethe item 62 will be delivered, the portable computing device 30 performsmis-delivery data collection and processing in association with thatstop. Mis-delivery data collection and processing can be performed eachtime an appropriate GPS trigger event occurs. As described above, GPStrigger events may include, but are not limited to, the first packagescan event for a stop, an electronic signature capture event, an inputto the device 30 indicating that a package or item has been left at thecurrent location (i.e., without capturing a signature), and an input orevent that indicates to the device that the current stop is nowcomplete. For example, mis-delivery data collection and processing maybe initiated when the driver of the delivery vehicle 60 uses theportable device 30 to scan a label (e.g., a barcode, RFID tag, etc.) 72associated with the item 62. In response to this action, the portabledevice 30 obtains the most recent GPS location data that it has receivedfrom a remote GPS system 80. The portable device 30 can then perform aproximity calculation to determine what type of feedback should beprovided to the driver. In some cases, feedback information and otherdelivery data may be provided to a remote monitoring system 90 in realtime via a wireless link.

Generally described, in one embodiment, the proximity calculationcompares the current GPS location data to a corresponding referencelocation data set that is associated with the current unit of work(e.g., the delivery of the item 62), to determine whether a potentialmis-delivery may be occurring. In one embodiment, the proximity distancecomputed at each GPS trigger point can be calculated as follows:Proximity Distance=(RadiusOfEarth)*acos[cos(GPSLat)*cos(RefLat)*cos(GPSLong−RefLong)+sin(GPSLat)*sin(RefLat)],where GPSLat is the latitude received from the current GPS reading,GPSLong is the longitude received from the current GPS reading, RefLatis the reference latitude for the delivery address which is the latitudeof the reference geocode, RefLong is the reference longitude for thedelivery address which is the longitude of the reference geocode, andRadiusOfEarth is approximately 6378 km or 3963 (statute) miles. Where,for example, the reference location data set comprises a circle ofconfidence 70 with the center of the circle being the latitude andlongitude specified by the reference geocode, if the proximity distanceis less than the radius of the circle of confidence 70 (i.e., thecurrent delivery location appears to be inside the circle), the portablecomputing device 30 can be configured to provide “positive” feedback tothe driver (i.e., audio, visual or otherwise). On the other hand, if theproximity distance is greater than the radius of the circle ofconfidence 70 (i.e., the current delivery location appears to be outsideof the circle), the portable device 30 can be configured to provide“negative” feedback. In all other cases, the device 30 can be configuredto provide some form of “neutral” feedback or no feedback at all.

Calculating a proximity distance is one example of how, in oneembodiment, the portable device 30 may determine whether current GPSlocation data falls within the zone of confidence for a particularaddress. In other embodiments, other techniques may be used to comparethe current latitude and longitude data from a current GPS reading tothe reference latitude and longitude of the reference geocode and/or thezone of confidence border. Furthermore, in addition to conducting aproximity calculation or otherwise comparing the current GPS data to thezone of confidence, at appropriate trigger events during a delivery themost recent GPS reading may be stored in the portable device 30 and, atsome point, uploaded to the delivery management system 20 as a geocodesample for potential use in the generation of a reference location dataset for the associated delivery address. The systems and methods forusing the geocode samples to generate reference location data, such asreference geocodes and zones of confidence, are described in greaterdetail below. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present inventionare described herein as using GPS, other similar types of positioningsystems may be used to generate the position data used for comparing acurrent position to a reference position or for generating geocodessamples.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed block diagram of the delivery monitoringsystem 10 of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. In addition to other delivery management functions thedelivery monitoring system 10 has at least two primary functions relatedto using geocodes to detect potential mis-deliveries: (1) to generate areference location data set (e.g., a reference geocode and/or a zone ofconfidence) for each point address to which an item may be delivered;and (2) to provide such reference location data sets to the portablecomputing device(s) 30 for on-road use in detecting potentialmis-deliveries. To accomplish these objectives, the delivery managementsystem 20 includes an upload module 21 that uploads the on-roadcollected geocode samples (e.g., GPS records) and other related deliveryor geocode information from the portable computing device(s) 30 andexports this data to a portable device information repository 22. Theportable device information repository 22 is basically used for storingdelivery information collected by the portable devices 30 for eachunique point address, including the geocode samples (e.g., GPSlatitude/longitude records) collected by the portable devices 30 duringpast deliveries (or pickups).

Note that, although embodiments of the present invention are describedherein generally with respect to deliveries, embodiments of the presentinvention may also apply to pickups. For example, geocode samples may begenerated when an item is picked up at a point address by a deliveryservice in addition to when an item is delivered to a point address.

Referring again to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, each on-road collecteddata set (e.g., geocode samples and other delivery and geocodeinformation) includes a unique location identifier (e.g., a unique pointaddress or a unique code for a unique point address) that allows theupload module 21 to know which location the geocode sample(s) and otherinformation applies to. This allows each new on-road collected data setto be associated with an associated point address. In addition togeocode samples, each on-road collected data set may include otherrelevant delivery information, such as, for example, the type of triggerevent that led to the geocode sample being taken, the time/date when thegeocode sample was taken, the time/date when the trigger event occurred,and the type of feedback (if any) that was provided in association withthe sample, to name just a few. A more detailed description of thedelivery information that may be included in an on-road collected dataset is described below in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the delivery management system 20 includes alocation data service (LDS) 23 that receives geocode samples and otherdelivery information from the portable device information repository 22and uses this information to generate a reference location data set foreach unique point address. In one embodiment, each reference locationdata set generated by the LDS 23 in association with a point addressincludes a reference geocode and corresponding zone of confidenceinformation. In one embodiment, the zone of confidence informationincludes a radius that defines a circle of confidence about thereference geocode (e.g., the reference latitude and longitude). Asindicated above, if delivery of an item occurs within the associatedzone of confidence, it is generally assumed that the item is beingdelivered to the correct address. In one embodiment where the zone ofconfidence is a circle, the radius that defines the size of the circleof confidence can be a fixed value for all potential delivery stops. Insuch an embodiment, the radius may be stored generally in the portabledevice 30 and, in one embodiment, might not be associated with aparticular point address or communicated in the reference location datasets received by the portable device 30 from the LDS 23. In anotherembodiment, the value of the radius may be customized for each pointaddress based on the distribution of geocode samples or on additionalinformation, such as whether a particular stop is a large commercialcomplex with various access points or a residential delivery stop wheredifferent addresses are relatively close together.

In one embodiment, to compute the reference location data set for eachpoint address, the LDS 23 periodically queries the portable deviceinformation repository 22 for new geocode samples or periodically checksfor location data in the information repository 22 that has changedsince the last query. In other embodiments, the LDS 23 requests specificinformation from the portable device information repository 22 using,for example, an appropriate location identifier (e.g., a unique pointaddress). In response to the query, the portable device informationrepository 22 may return a history of past geocode samples (e.g., GPSreadings) that are associated with unique point addresses. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, the portable device informationrepository 22 may also return other delivery information associated withthe unique point addresses and/or information about the geocode samplesthemselves.

In one embodiment, when generating an appropriate reference locationdata set for a point address, the LDS 23 basically performs a two-stepprocess on the returned set of historical geocode samples. First, theLDS 23 tries to eliminate or remove any outliers from the raw set ofhistorical geocode samples by applying, for example, a “nearestneighbor” algorithm. As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art,the nearest neighbor algorithm falls under the general umbrella ofdistance based outlier detection techniques, which can be used fordetecting and eliminating outliers from a data set, such as the set ofhistorical geocode samples provided to the LDS 23. Generally described,such techniques allow for the detection of outliers by looking at howfar a given point is from the other points within the data set. Thus,the term “outlier” generally refers to a particular observation or datapoint that lies an abnormal distance away from the main mass of datapoints within the overall data set. Because it can be assumed that thesedata points (i.e., these outliers) are likely to represent inaccurate orfalse readings, it may be preferable to remove them from the data setbefore computing the mean latitude and longitude and/or otherstatistical parameters for the particular point address. This initialstep is referred to herein as “scrubbing” the raw data set to produce aclean data set, which presumably provides a more accurate depiction ofwhat is being measured.

With the outliers removed, the LDS 23 can then apply various statisticaltechniques to the clean data set to determine the reference latitude andlongitude (i.e, the reference geocode) of the remaining historicalgeocode samples. Other useful statistical parameters can be computed aswell, including, for example, the variance, which is a measure of howspread out the distribution of the data points is. In one embodiment,the variance (or other such parameters) may be used in customizing thesize of the zone of confidence (e.g., the radius of a circle ofconfidence) for a particular point address. For example, if the varianceassociated with a particular address is small, the zone of confidenceabout the corresponding reference geocode may be defined to encompass asmaller area. Similarly, if the variance is large, the zone ofconfidence may need to be defined to encompass a larger area in order tokeep the number of false alarms below an acceptable threshold. After thereference location data has been computed for the identified pointaddress, the LDS 23 stores the information set in a reference locationdata set repository (not shown).

The route manager 25 is generally responsible for compiling a deliverymanifest that lists all units of work (UOWs) that a delivery driver isexpected to perform over the course of his or her workday. The routemanager 25 may receive the UOWs from, for example, a preload assistsystem 15. As is commonly done in the package delivery industry, theUOWs for a driver are downloaded to the driver's portable device 30, inthe form of a delivery manifest, to assist the driver in knowing whereand sometimes when to deliver (or pickup) each item along the driver'sdelivery route. To augment the traditional address and delivery datathat would normally be provided in association with each UOW, the LDS 23allows the route manager 25 to obtain the appropriate reference locationdata, such as the reference geocode and, in some embodiments, otherinformation such as zone of confidence information, for the pointaddress associated with each UOW. In one embodiment, this can beaccomplished by having the route manager 25 submit a request to theLDS's reference location data repository for location data based on thelocation identifier (e.g., the unique address or address ID code)associated with each UOW. After all available reference location datahas been retrieved for each UOW, the route manager 25 may download thedelivery manifest (including the reference location data) to theappropriate portable device 30. The portable device 30 is then able touse the reference location data to perform mis-delivery detectionprocessing during the delivery as described herein.

In one embodiment, the delivery management system 20 includes a portabledevice control system 17 configured to communicate with the portablecomputing device 30. The portable device control system 17 communicatesconfiguration information to the portable device 30, which may includeGPS configuration information.

B. Portable Computing Device

FIG. 5 shows a high level block diagram of the portable computing device30 of FIGS. 1 and 4 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The portable device 30 includes a processor 31 thatcommunicates with other elements within the device via a systeminterface or bus 32. Also included in the portable device 30 is adisplay device/input device 33, a data capture device 34, and atimestamp module 35 that can be used to associate time and dateinformation with each data capture event. The display device/inputdevice 33 may be, for example, a keyboard, touchpad, touch screen, orpointing device that is used in combination with a display screen ormonitor. The data capture device 34 may be a barcode reader, a RFIDinterrogator, or any other type of automated or manual data capturedevice that is known in the art. The portable computing device 30further includes a GPS module 36 for receiving and processing GPS data,and a communications module 37 that allows the processor 31 tocommunicate wirelessly (or otherwise) with remote devices and systems,using for example, one of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, 802.15.4 protocol,or a standard 3G wireless telecommunications protocol, such as CDMA20001x EV-DO, GPRS or W-CDMA. The communications module 37 also facilitatesthe downloading and uploading of delivery/location data to and from thedevice 30.

The GPS module 36 may include a GPS sensor that is configured toacquire, for example, a latitude, longitude, altitude, course, speed,universal time (UTC), and date, wherein such data may be acquired inNational Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) data format orother appropriate data format. As will be appreciated by one skilled inthe art, the GPS sensor 310 acquires data, sometimes known as ephemerisdata, identifying the number of satellites in view and the relativepositions of those satellites. In addition, data regarding, for example,heading and ETA can also be captured, which enhances the determinationof the position of the GPS sensor and allows an area to be profiled orsegmented based on the common characteristics of the data.

The computing device 30 further includes memory 40, which can be used tostore a number of program modules and data items, such as an operatingsystem 41, a mis-delivery software application 42, and a downloadeddelivery manifest 43. The mis-delivery application 42 is used forcontrolling the functionality associated with both the collection andprocessing of position readings (i.e., geocode samples) taken inresponse to each predefined trigger event. As mentioned above, thedownloaded delivery manifest 43 generally includes a list of the itemsthat are to be delivered (or picked up) by the driver over the course ofhis or her workday. In one embodiment, each UOW 45 listed in thedelivery manifest 43 includes a tracking number 46, address data 47, anda corresponding reference location data set 48. Each reference locationdata set 48 may include a reference geocode (e.g., a latitude andlongitude reference point) and one or more metrics that define acorresponding zone of confidence, within which delivery of a relateditem is considered acceptable. Each UOW 45 may also include otherdelivery related data 49, such as instructions on whether to release anitem without a signature, instructions on where to leave the item if arecipient is not present, and instructions on whether the item isscheduled to be delivered by a certain time, to name just a few.

The memory 40 also includes a mis-delivery data collection storage area50 used for storing geocode sample data sets, such as GPS location datasets 52, which are collected in association with each GPS trigger eventdetected by the device 30. In the embodiment shown, each GPS locationdata set 52 includes: a location identifier (e.g., a unique address oraddress code) for identifying where the GPS reading is believed to havebeen taken (i.e., the intended delivery address); a trigger type foridentifying the type of GPS trigger event that facilitated the GPS datacapture event; a GPS location reading (e.g., a latitude and longitudereading) obtained in response to such event; timestamp data foridentifying the approximate time/date when the event occurred and thetime of the GPS reading if different from the time of the trigger event;and feedback information for identifying the type of feedback (if any)that was issued by the device 30. The memory 40 can be considered eitherprimary memory, that is RAM or other forms which retain the contentsonly during operation, or it may be non-volatile, such as ROM, EPROM,EEPROM, FLASH, or other types of memory that retain the memory contentsat all times. The memory 40 could also be secondary memory, such as diskstorage, that stores a large amount of data.

As described above, in one embodiment, the timestamp data of each GPSlocation data set 52 may further include information related to the“age” of the GPS reading recorded in response to a trigger event. Inthis regard, the GPS module 36 may be configured to continuously orperiodically store temporary GPS readings, regardless of whether atrigger event has occurred. This may be beneficial since GPS readingsmay not always be available at any given moment in time since the GPSsignal could be temporarily blocked by a nearby object or device orotherwise unavailable. If a trigger event occurs at a moment in timewhen the GPS module 36 cannot immediately obtain a GPS reading, the lastGPS reading (or in some embodiments the next GPS reading) obtained bythe GPS module 36 may be associated with the current trigger event inplace of a GPS taken at the same time as the trigger event. In such anembodiment, the portable device 30 may store information about the timeof the GPS reading and the time of the associated trigger event so thatthe delivery management system 20 may use such information indetermining the “accuracy” of the GPS reading. The portable device 30may store this information in a number of different ways. For example,in one embodiment, the time of the GPS reading may be stored in additionto the time of the associated trigger event. In another embodiment, thetime between the trigger event and the associated GPS reading may berecorded.

Although the portable computing device 30 is generally described hereinas comprising a handheld computer and/or scanner, in other embodiments,the portable computing device 30 may include other devices. For example,in some embodiments, sensors may be installed on or about the deliveryvehicle, such as on the engine, doors, and other electrical componentsof the vehicle so as to allow the portable computing device 30 to gatheradditional package delivery details, GPS readings, and/or other positiondata and delivery data. The sensors may communicate with the portabledevice 30 or may communicate directly with the delivery managementsystem 20 via a wired or wireless communication network. In anotherexample, one or more user interface devices may be installed on or aboutthe delivery vehicle, so as to allow communication between the driverand the portable computing device 30 and/or the delivery managementsystem 20. For example, a heads-up display may be provided for thedriver in order to present information, such as mis-delivery feedbackinformation, to the driver as the driver is sitting in the driver's seatof the delivery vehicle.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a process flow diagram that illustrates the processthat may occur at the portable computing device 30 or other device fordetermining whether a potential mis-delivery may be occurring at adelivery stop, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The process begins at step 101, where the system (e.g., themis-delivery application 42 running on the portable computing device 30)waits for the occurrence of a predefined GPS trigger event. Suchpredefined GPS trigger events may include, but are not limited to, thefirst label scan event for a stop, an electronic signature captureevent, an input to the device 30 indicating that the driver has left aparticular item at the current location (i.e., without capturing asignature), an input or event that indicates to the device that thecurrent stop is now complete, or an input specifically instructing thedevice to capture a GPS reading. When a GPS trigger event does occur(e.g., the driver performs the first package scan of a stop), theprocess proceeds to step 102 where, in response to the trigger event,the system obtains the most recent GPS location data from the GPS module36.

If the system determines, at step 103, that the GPS module 36 hasreturned an error (e.g., serial link down), the process advances to step104 where the system sets the type of mis-delivery feedback to“neutral.” Mis-delivery feedback generally includes any type of audioand/or visual indicator, or any other such indicator, that providesnotification to the driver (or remote monitoring system 90) on whether apotential mis-delivery may be occurring. Neutral feedback generallyimplies that for one reason or another, the device 30 is not able todetermine whether a potential mis-delivery may be occurring inconnection with the current GPS trigger event. If an error is notreturned by the GPS module 36, the process advances to step 105, wherethe system checks to see whether the most recent GPS data available wasreceived recently enough to provide a valid estimate of the currentlocation. Specifically, if the system determines that the time since thelast valid GPS record exceeds a predefined expiration value (e.g., iflast valid GPS record is more than 10 seconds old), the system may againset the type of mis-delivery feedback to neutral.

If, on the other hand, the last valid GPS record was received recentlyenough to provide a valid estimate of the current location (e.g., thetime since the last valid GPS record is equal to or less than thepredetermined expiration value), the process advances to step 106, wherethe system sets out to obtain the reference location data set 48 that isassociated with the current UOW. As described above, in one embodiment,each reference location data set 48 includes a reference geocode (e.g.,a reference longitude and latitude) and a radius value that defines acircle of confidence (COC) about the reference geocode, within whichdelivery of a related item is considered acceptable. As also describedabove, in a preferred embodiment, the portable device 30 receives suchreference location data with the delivery manifest obtained from theroute manager 25. As such, step 106 may involve the system accessingdata stored in the memory of the portable device 30 to obtain thereference location data set 48 associated with the current UOW. Inanother embodiment, however, the portable device 30 may wirelesslyaccess the delivery management system 20 in an attempt to obtainreference location data. In yet another embodiment, the portable device30 may wirelessly communicate the GPS record to the delivery managementsystem 20 and await mis-delivery feedback from the delivery managementsystem 20. If the system determines, at step 107, that referencelocation data for the current UOW is not available, the system againsets the type of mis-delivery feedback to neutral.

However, if the appropriate reference location data is available, forexample, in the reference location data set 48 stored in the memory 40of the portable device 30, the process advances to step 108, where thesystem determines whether the current GPS reading is within the zone ofconfidence defined by the reference location data. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, this step involves computing the proximitydistance between the current GPS latitude and longitude reading and thereference latitude and longitude provided in the reference location dataset. In one embodiment, the proximity distance computed at each GPStrigger point can be calculated as follows: ProximityDistance=(RadiusOfEarth)*acos[cos(GPSLat)*cos(RefLat)*cos(GPSLong−RefLong)+sin(GPSLat)*sin(RefLat)],where GPSLat is the latitude received from the current GPS reading,GPSLong is the longitude received from the current GPS reading, RefLatis the reference latitude provided in the reference location data set,RefLong is the reference longitude provided in the reference locationdata set, and RadiusOfEarth is approximately 6378 km or 3963 (statute)miles. Next, at step 109, in an embodiment where the zone of confidenceis a circle, the system determines whether or not the calculatedproximity distance is less than the circle of confidence radius providedin the reference location data set 48.

If the system determines that the GPS reading is within the referencezone of confidence (e.g., the calculated proximity distance is less thatthe radius of the circle of confidence), the process proceeds to step110, where the system sets the type of mis-delivery feedback to“positive” so that positive mis-delivery feedback can be provided to thedriver (or remote monitoring system 90). Alternatively, if the systemdetermines that the GPS reading is outside the reference zone ofconfidence (e.g., the calculated proximity distance is greater than theradius of the circle of confidence), the process advances to step 111,where the system sets the type of mis-delivery feedback to “negative” sothat negative mis-delivery feedback can be provided to the driver (orremote monitoring system 90).

At step 112, the system displays or issues the appropriate type ofmis-delivery feedback to the driver (or remote monitoring system 90). Inone embodiment, neutral feedback is provided to the driver by displayingan appropriate neutral visual indicator on the display of the portabledevice 30, positive feedback is provided by displaying an appropriatepositive visual indicator, and negative feedback is provided bydisplaying an appropriate negative visual indicator and by issuing acorresponding audible tone. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates threeexemplary display views that may be displayed on the portable device 30in response to positive, neutral, and negative mis-delivery feedbackevents. Display view 130 illustrates a positive visual indicator thatmay include a positive icon 140. In the illustrated embodiment, thepositive icon 140 is a green bull's eye symbol with cross hairs. Displayview 131 illustrates a neutral visual indicator that may include aneutral icon 141. In the illustrated embodiment, the neutral icon 141 isa yellow bull's eye symbol. Display view 132 illustrates a negativevisual indicator that may include a negative icon 142. In theillustrated embodiment, the negative icon 142 is a red bull's eye symbolwith slash through it. In other embodiments, the portable device 30 mayprovide the driver with feedback in other ways in addition to or as analternative to the icons 140, 141, and 142. For example, in oneembodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the portable device 30 may display amap 150 with visual indicators representing the reference geocode (e.g.,the latitude and longitude reference point) 152, the zone of confidence153, and visual indicators 155 and/or 156 for one or more of the GPSreadings. In this way the driver may be able to see on the map 150whether a current GPS reading is within the zone of confidence 153 andwhere the current GPS reading is with respect to the zone of confidence.

At step 113, the system stores all relevant data associated with thecurrent GPS trigger event, including, but not limited to, locationidentifier (e.g., unique address or address code), type of GPS triggerevent, GPS location reading (i.e., latitude and longitude), timestampdata, and information on the type of mis-delivery feedback that wasissued (if any) in connection with the current GPS trigger event. If thesystem determines, at step 114, that the current stop has come to anend, mis-delivery processing for the current stop also comes to an end.However, if the system determines the stop has not ended, the processreturns to step 101 where the system waits for the next GPS triggerevent to occur. This data stored by the portable device 30 can, at somepoint, be uploaded to the portable device information repository 22, asillustrated in FIG. 4, and the GPS readings or other positioninformation taken in response to certain predefined trigger events maybe used as geocode samples that are used by the LDS 23 to generate ormodify the reference location data for the associated point address.

C. Location Data Service

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram primarily of the location dataservice (LDS) 23 of FIG. 4. As described above, the LDS 23 receivesgeocode samples, such as GPS records, and other related geocode and/ordelivery information from the portable device information repository 22and uses the geocode samples and other information to generate areference location data set (e.g., a reference geocode and a zone ofconfidence) for each unique point address.

Although many of the embodiments of the LDS 23 described herein aredescribed with reference to the delivery management system 20, otherembodiments of the LDS 23 and the systems and processes associatedtherewith may be used with other systems where it is advantageous toassociate geocodes with point addresses. For example, although the LDS23 is described herein as obtaining geocode samples from portabledevices 30 used by drivers in a delivery/pickup service, otherembodiments of the LDS 23 may receive geocode samples from othersources. Likewise, although the LDS 23 is described herein ascommunicating reference location data sets to portable devices 30 usedby delivery drivers, other embodiments of the LDS 23 may providereference location data (e.g., reference geocodes) and related metricsto other entities, such as a mapping service. In this regard, theability to link delivery route information and delivery addresses withgeocode information captured by a GPS sensor 310 during the deliverythus allows for the creation of a data standard that is an improvementover census and zip code+4 data alone. The benefits of this are fargreater than just preventing mis-deliveries. While one use of such datais to enhance the accuracy of customer data in the package deliveryindustry, this data has value outside the parcel delivery and pickupindustry that will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart. For example, the LDS 23 and some or all of the other systemsdescribed herein can be used to create a more accurate database ofaddresses and associated geocodes that can be used in many applications,such as, for example, to direct emergency response personnel to aparticular address.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the illustrated embodiment, the LDS 23 has twomain systems of execution: a job control system 200, and a messagehandler system 210. The job control system 200 controls the receipt ofportable device information (e.g., GPS records, delivery information,etc.) and the conversion of this information into a reference geocodeand related metrics for each unique point address. The message handlersystem 210 handles incoming messages, such as requests for the referencelocation data (e.g., the reference geocodes) associated with certainpoint addresses.

The job control system 200 performs work based on jobs outlined in thejob tables 230. The job control system 200 performs work by callingvarious modules of the LDS 23. In this regard, the LDS 23 includes arepository subscription module 208 that is configured to communicatewith the portable device information repository 22 and receive datastored in the portable device information repository 22. As describedabove, the portable device information repository 22 includesinformation received from one or more of the portable devices 30. Suchinformation may include unique location identifiers (e.g., uniqueaddresses and/or address codes) and associated geocode samples (e.g.,GPS records), as well as related geocode and/or delivery information(e.g., an indication of the trigger event that prompted each geocodesample to be recorded, timestamp data, the age or the “accuracy” of eachgeocode sample, etc.). The repository subscription module 208 may becommunicatively coupled to the portable device information repository 22via a wired or a wireless connection, which may include a local, wide,or global area network (e.g., the Internet).

In one embodiment, the repository subscription module 208 uses FileTransfer Protocol (FTP) to connect to and receive data from theinformation repository 22. For example, the repository subscriptionmodule 208 may be configured to periodically check the FTP directory ofthe portable device information repository 22 for the latest set ofportable device information export files that have not been processed bythe LDS 23. If the repository subscription module 208 finds new exportfiles in the portable device information repository 22, the repositorysubscription module 208 may then use FTP to pull the export files fromthe portable device information repository 22 server and download thedata to a local directory or data file system 220.

The data received from the information repository 22 may be in acompressed form or in a specific format that is not preferred by variouscomponents of the LDS 23. As such, the repository subscription module208 may decompress (e.g., “unzip”) or otherwise reformat the data beforestoring the data in the LDS's repository data file system 220. In oneembodiment, the repository information is stored in the file system 220as a delimited text file, such as a Comma Separated Values (CSV) filetype.

After the repository subscription module 208 receives new data filesfrom the portable device information repository 22, the repositorysubscription module 208 may then create a new job in the job tables 230that will call up other modules of the job control system 200 of the LDS23 in order to process the new data stored in the data file system 220.In this regard, the LDS 23 further includes a get-repository-data module202. The get-repository-data module 202 is configured to obtain the datafrom the file system 220, such as by parsing the delimited text files,and importing the data into one or more portable device informationhistory tables 222.

In one embodiment, the get-repository-data module 202 imports theportable device information data into four tables: an address table, astop table, a packages table, and a geocode trigger table. The addresstable includes a record of each unique address that is processed by theLDS 23. The address table may also include a unique key or a “point ID”for each unique address. The point ID is a unique shorthandrepresentation of a unique point address used by the LDS 23 and/or thedelivery management system 10 to identify the unique point address. Inone embodiment, the point ID is a 16 byte number generated by the LDS 23by taking primary elements of the address (e.g., street number, name,city, postal code, and/or country) and running them through analgorithm, such as an MD5 hash algorithm. Although much of the data inthe portable device information history tables 222, such as the stop,packages, and trigger tables, may be considered a temporary or “workingset” of data that gets processed by the system and is then deleted, inone embodiment, the data in the address tables (e.g., the uniqueaddresses and the associated point IDs) is not deleted.

For each unique address stored in the address table, at least one stoprecord is created in the stop table. Each stop record includesinformation about a delivery or a pickup stop made to the associatedunique address. For each stop record stored in the stop table, at leastone package record is created in the packages table. Each package recordincludes information about an item being delivered or picked up at theassociated address during the associated stop. The item information mayinclude information about the item and/or about whether the item wassuccessfully delivered or picked up. For each package record stored inthe packages table, at least one geocode trigger record is created inthe geocode trigger table. Each geocode trigger record includesinformation about a geocode trigger event that occurred at theassociated address during the associated stop for the associated item orpackage. The geocode trigger event information may include suchinformation as a GPS reading (e.g., latitude and longitude information)recorded in response to the trigger event, the type of trigger event,timestamp information about when the trigger event occurred, informationabout when the GPS reading was taken relative to the trigger event, anyfeedback information, etc.

The LDS 23 further includes a business logic module 204. The businesslogic module 204 is generally configured to receive the portable deviceinformation history tables 222, filter and process the data storedtherein by applying various business-related logic to the data, andgenerate weighted geocode sample data 224. The weighted geocode sampledata 224 includes the geocode sample records after they are processed bythe business logic module 204. The weighted geocode sample data 224therefore includes a record of one or more geocode samples for eachunique point address that has been processed by the LDS 23. In oneembodiment, the business logic module 204 creates one weighted geocodesample for each eligible delivery (or pickup) stop. In otherembodiments, the business logic module 204 may create a plurality ofweighted geocode samples for each stop, such as one weighted geocodesample for each of a plurality of eligible trigger events that occurredat each eligible stop.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the business logic module 204 maybe configured to select which stops may be suitable to use in thegeneration of reference location data. For example, the package tablesmay include one or more package status codes for each package. Thepackage status codes may include codes that indicate that the deliveryor pickup of the package was unsuccessful. If the package status codesfor all of the packages at a stop have, for example, an “unsuccessful”status code associated therewith, then the business logic module 204 maybe configured to ignore the stop completely.

Similarly, in one embodiment, the business logic module 204 may beconfigured to select which trigger events may be suitable to use ingenerating reference location data and/or how much to weight eachgeocode sample recorded during the trigger events. For example, thebusiness logic module 204 may be configured to ignore or weight geocodesamples based on the type of trigger event (e.g., a GPS reading capturedat the time that the consignee signed for a package may be considered tobe a more reliable of a geocode sample than a GPS reading captured atthe time that the delivery driver scanned the package in the truck)and/or the “age” of the geocode at the time it was recorded (e.g., a GPSreading taken at the time of the trigger event may be considered morereliable than a GPS reading that was actually taken thirty secondsbefore the trigger event). In some embodiments, once the business logicmodule 204 finishes processing the portable device information historydata 222, the business logic module 204 may be configured to delete thedata 222 other than the address and point ID data. FIG. 13, describedbelow, provides a more detailed description of the process executed bythe business logic module 204 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The LDS 23 further includes an “Operations Research” (OR) algorithmmodule 206. The OR algorithm module 206 is generally configured to readthe weighted geocode sample data generated by the business logic module204 and generate reference location data (e.g., reference geocodesand/or zones of confidence) therefrom. The OR algorithm module 206 mayalso be configured to perform other tasks such as deleting excessgeocode samples in the weighted geocode sample data if the geocodesamples associated with a particular point address are greater than somepredefined maximum number.

In general, the OR algorithm module 206 is configured to create a singlereference location data set for each unique point address by applyingstatistical algorithms to the collection of weighted geocode samplesassociated with each unique point address. For example, the OR algorithmmodule 206 may run an averaging calculation and one or more nearestneighbor-type calculations or other algorithms on the collection ofgeocode samples for a given point address in order to eliminate outlierrecords and determine a mean geocode (e.g., a mean latitude andlongitude) to use as the reference geocode. The OR algorithm module 206may also be configured to generate zone of confidence parameters, suchas a circle of confidence radius, for each point address. The zone ofconfidence may be based on, for example, a predetermined value or may bebased on results of the nearest neighbor algorithm or other algorithm.The reference location data set (e.g., a reference geocode and/or zoneof confidence parameters) generated by the OR algorithm module 206 foreach unique point address may then be stored in the reference locationdata set repository 226.

In one embodiment, the OR algorithm module 206 is also configured to“clean-up” or delete excess geocode samples stored in the weightedgeocode sample repository 224. For example, the number of geocodesamples per unique address may be capped at a certain maximum numbersuch that the system does not get bogged down with too many samples. Forexample, where new weighted geocode samples generated by the businesslogic module 204 cause the number of geocode samples stored in theweighted geocode samples repository 224 for a particular point addressto be greater than a predetermined maximum number of geocode samplesallowable for each point address, then the OR algorithm module 206 maybe configured to delete one or more of the geocode samples in therepository 224 to bring the total number of geocode samples for theparticular address below the maximum allowable number of geocodesamples. In one embodiment, the OR algorithm module 206 deletes geocodesamples based on the relative ages of the samples and/or the relativeweights of the samples (e.g., older records and records with lowerweights may be considered less reliable than newer records and recordsof with greater weights). FIG. 14, described below, provides a moredetailed description of the process executed by the OR algorithm module206 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery management system 10 may also include a LDS control panel232. The LDS control panel 232 may provide a system administrator orother user with access to the LDS 23 and may allow the user to editexisting jobs stored in the job tables 230 of the LDS 23 or to specifynew jobs for the LDS 23 to perform. As the job control system 200 of theLDS 23 performs various jobs, the job control system 200 may update thestatus of each job in the job tables 230. In this way, the LDS controlpanel 232 can be used to monitor the progress of one or more jobs beingperformed by the LDS 23. In this regard, FIG. 10 illustrates anexemplary graphical user interface 233 of the LDS control panel 232, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In addition to the job control system 200 described above, the LDS 23further includes a message handler system 210 configured to handleincoming messages, such as requests for some or all of the referencelocation data sets 226 generated by the job control system 200. In thisregard, the message handler system 210 may include a route mangersubscription module 212 for communicating reference location data sets(e.g., reference geocodes and/or zone of confidence information) to theroute manager 25 or to some other remote system.

For example, in one embodiment, the route manager subscription module212 receives a request from a remote route manager 25 associated with aparticular delivery distribution center. The request from the routemanager 25 may include information about the last time the route manager25 was updated with reference location data from the LDS 23. Inresponse, the route manager subscription module 212 may access thereference location data set repository 226 and communicate the referencelocation data sets that have changed since the last time the routemanager 25 was updated. In other instances, the route managersubscription module 212 may be configured to deliver all of thereference location data sets stored in the repository 226 to the routemanager 25 or other remote entity. In still other instances, the routemanager subscription module 212 may be configured to receive a requestfor reference location data for one or more specific point address, towhich the route manager subscription module 212 may respond only withthe reference location data sets associated with the one or morerequested point addresses. In one embodiment, the route managersubscription module 212 uses Extensible Markup Language (XML) tocommunicate reference location data to the route manger 25 and/or toother remote entities. In this regard, the route manager subscriptionmodule 212 may further be configured to compress or encode the referencelocation data prior to communicating it to the route manager 25 or otherentity over a communication network.

The location data service 23 may be comprised of a single server ormultiple servers. Where the LDS 23 is comprised of multiple servers, themultiple LDS servers may be identical or may be configured to processdifferent information. For example, in one embodiment, multipleidentical LDS servers may be provided that use a round robin loadbalancer that distributes jobs and data requests to the various LDSservers in order to distribute the work load amongst the multipleservers in a substantially even manner. In another exemplary embodiment,each of a plurality of LDS servers are configured only to handlelocation data received from certain predefined sources, such as from apredefined group of delivery distribution centers. In such anembodiment, each LDS server is aware of which LDS server handles whichdistribution centers so that if a first LDS server receives a datarequest for location data handled by a different LDS server, the firstLDS server can forward the data request to the appropriate LDS server.Of course other server arrangements may be used to perform the functionsof the LDS 23, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art in view ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 11 provides a flow chart that illustrates the process of receivinggeocode samples and generating reference location data sets for each ofa plurality of point address, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. As described above, such a process may be performedby the LDS 23, and, in particular, by the job control system 200 of theLDS 23. At step 300, the LDS 23 may periodically (e.g., daily) check theportable device information repository 22 for new data, such as newgeocode samples and/or delivery data received from a portable deliverydevice 30. As described above, the LDS 23 may comprise a repositorysubscription module 208 to perform the task of checking the repository22 for new data that may be useful in the generation of referencelocation data sets, where the “new data” is data that has been added toor data that has been modified in the repository 22 since the last timethe subscription module 208 checked and/or received data from therepository 22.

At step 305, the LDS 23 receives new data from the portable deviceinformation repository 22 and then, at step 310, saves the new data intoa local file system or data repository. For example, as described above,the repository subscription module 208 of the LDS 23 may save the newdata into a repository data file system 220 and, in doing so,decompress, encode, and/or decode the data into a predefined data orfile format. At step 315, the LDS's repository subscription module 208may then create a new job in the job tables 230 that informs the LDS 23of the new data that the LDS's job control system 200 needs to furtherprocess.

At step 320, the LDS 23 may take the new data stored in LDS file system220 and organize the new data into one or more portable deviceinformation history tables 222. As described above, the LDS 23 may usethe get-repository data module 202 to get the data from the file system220 and organize it into a plurality of tables, such as an addresstable, a stop table, a packages table, and a geocode trigger table. Atstep 320, the LDS 23 may also create a unique point ID for each uniquepoint address that it receives in the data. In one embodiment, theget-repository-data module 202, when creating an address table, createsthe unique point ID for each new unique address it receives by using apredefined algorithm, such as an M5 hash algorithm.

At step 325, the LDS 23 filters, weights, and/or otherwise processes thehistory tables 222, which contain the new data, in order to create newweighted geocode samples for the weighted geocode sample data repository224. In general, step 325 involves reading each geocode sample (e.g.,GPS record) in the new data and any associated contextual informationabout the geocode sample and then determining how useful each geocodesample may be in accurately identifying the true location (e.g., thetrue latitude and longitude) of the associated point address. Eachgeocode sample may then be weighted based on its determined usefulnessrelative to other geocode samples. For example, manually entered datagenerated by the delivery driver may be considered to be ofteninaccurate compared to data automatically generated by the deliverymanagement system 20 or the portable computing device 30. As such, inone embodiment, manually entered data may be weighted zero andeffectively ignored when calculating the reference location data. Inanother example, a GPS record may be weighted highly where the GPSreading was recorded by a portable device 30 at the same time that aconsignee is signing for a package. Such weighting rules may beexternally configurable and may correspond to such attributes of thestop and the geocode reading as stop type, trigger type, time since thelast stop, age of the GPS reading, etc. As described above, the LDS 23may use the business logic module 204 to apply such filtering and/orweighting rules to the new data received. FIG. 13, described below,provides a more detailed description of the process executed by thebusiness logic module 204 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

At step 330, the LDS 23 stores the new weighted geocode sample data in aweighted geocode sample data repository 224 updating or adding anypreviously-generated geocode sample data already stored therein.

At step 335, the LDS 23 uses the geocode sample data stored in theweighted geocode sample data repository 224 to calculate a referencegeocode for each eligible point address. To do so, the LDS 23 may useone or more statistical algorithms to generate a single referencegeocode (e.g., a reference longitude and latitude) for each eligiblepoint address from the plurality of different geocode samples that maybe associated with a point address. For example, the LDS 23 may apply anaveraging algorithm to calculate a mean latitude and a mean longitudefrom the plurality of sample latitude and longitude records that may beassociated with a point address. The averaging algorithm may be aweighted averaging algorithm that uses the weights assigned to thegeocode samples in step 325 when calculating the mean location data.

In some embodiments, the LDS 23 uses one or more nearest neighboralgorithms to ignore outlying geocode samples during the calculation ofa reference geocode. In some embodiments, a point address is consideredeligible for having a reference location data calculated if the pointaddress has more than a predefined number of weighted geocode samplesassociated with it that have a non-zero weight. As described above, theLDS 23 may use the OR algorithm module 206 to perform such statisticalcalculations and create reference geocodes for each eligible pointaddress. FIG. 14, described below, provides a more detailed descriptionof the process executed by the OR algorithm module 206 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

At step 340, the LDS 23 may use the reference geocode generated in step335 along with various statistical algorithms to generate a zone ofconfidence for each eligible point address. As described above, the zoneof confidence is an area about the reference geocode in which a currentGPS reading is assumed to be acceptably close to the reference geocode.The zone of confidence recognizes the inaccuracies that may be inherentin the process, such as in the GPS readings, the generation of geocodesamples, and the generation of reference geocodes. The zone ofconfidence can also be tailored to the particular application for whichthe reference geocodes are to be used. In some embodiments the zone ofconfidence may be the same for all point addresses, while in otherembodiments, the zone of confidence may be tailored to the particularpoint address (e.g., a large shopping center having only a single pointaddress associated with it may have a larger zone of confidence that aresidential address in a tightly laid-out neighborhood) and/or to thevariance in the non-zero weighted geocode samples or the mean distanceof the non-zero weighted geocode samples from the calculated referencelocation. In one embodiment, the zone of confidence includes a circle ofconfidence and the statistical algorithms are used to determine anappropriate radius of the circle of confidence associated with eachpoint address. As described above, in one embodiment, the LDS 23 usesthe OR algorithm module 206 to create a zone of confidence for eacheligible point address. FIG. 14, described below, provides a moredetailed description of the process executed by the OR algorithm module206 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

At step 345, the LDS 23 stores the reference location data set (e.g.,the reference geocode and the associated zone of confidence) for eachaddress in the reference location data set repository 226. The LDS 23repeats the steps 300-345 continuously or periodically in order tocontinuously process new geocode data and/or associated delivery datacollected by portable devices 30 or other sources.

FIG. 12 provides a flow chart that illustrates the process of providingreference location data to remote requesting entities, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. As described above, such aprocess may be performed by the LDS 23, and, in particular, by themessage handler system 210 of the LDS 23. At step 350, the LDS 23 mayreceive a request for reference location data. For example, in oneembodiment, a subscription module of the LDS 23 receives a request thatincludes the date and time of the requesting entity's last updatereceived from the LDS 23. In response to such a request, at step 355,the subscription module may access the reference location datarepository 226 and, at step 360, communicate to the requesting entityany reference location data sets that have been added or modified sincethe date and time of the last update of the requesting entity. In otherembodiments, the subscription module may receive requests in the form ofspecific point addresses for which the requesting entity wants referencelocation data. In still other embodiments, requests to the LDS 23 may bemade in other ways, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art inview of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the requesting entity is a route manager 25 of adelivery service. In general, the route manager 25 generates thedelivery manifests that are downloaded to the portable devices 30. Adelivery service may have many route managers 25, each route managerservicing one or more delivery distribution centers, and eachdistribution center servicing a particular geographic region. Where therequesting entity is one of a plurality of route managers, the routemanager subscription module 212 of the LDS 23 may be configured torecognize the particular route manager 25 and only communicate new ormodified reference data sets that pertain to locations serviced by theroute manager 25 (e.g., locations serviced by the distribution centersthat the route manager services). Thus, in some embodiments, the LDS 23recognizes a requesting entity and only communicates new or modifiedreference data that pertains to addresses serviced by the requestingentity.

FIGS. 13A and 13B provide a flow chart that illustrates the process ofapplying predefined business logic rules to the portable deviceinformation and using such rules to filter and/or weight the geocodesamples, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Ingeneral, the business logic rules are rules that determine theusefulness of each record as a geocode sample for use in computingreference location data. The business logic rules determine usefulnessby making assumptions about the accuracy of the geocode samples based onsuch information as the age of the geocode sample, the trigger eventthat prompted recording of the sample, the type of location associatedwith the point address, the age of the geocode reading (e.g., the GPSreading) at the time that the geocode reading was recorded by thetrigger event, whether the delivery or pickup stop associated with thegeocode sample was deemed to be a successful delivery or pickup stop,and other information related to the delivery or pickup and/or thegeocode reading.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 13A and 13B, at step400, the business logic module 204 receives portable device informationhistory data and considers the data related to a particular unique pointaddress. For each point address, the data may contain information forone or more delivery or pickup stops made to the address. As such, atstep 404, the business logic module 204 selects a stop record associatedwith the particular point address. Each stop record may have a pluralityof package records associated therewith, for example, if a plurality ofitems were delivered and/or picked up to or from the point address.

The portable device information history data may include one or morestatus codes associated with each package record. The status codes maybe used by the delivery service to indicate information about the statusof the delivery or pickup of the particular package or item. Some statuscodes may be designated by the LDS 23 to be “ignore codes” that indicaterecords that may produce unreliable geocode samples and therefore shouldbe ignored. For example, certain status codes may indicate that thepickup or delivery of the package or other item was deemed unsuccessfulsince the address was incorrect or for some other reason. In someembodiments, even if the delivery or pickup was deemed successful,records may be ignored for other factors that may have a higher thanacceptable probability of leading to an inaccurate geocode sample. Forexample, in one embodiment, samples that include manually enteredaddress data may be ignored or, in another embodiment, all pickuprecords may be ignored. At step 410, if all of the package records for aparticular stop have ignore codes associated with them, then thebusiness logic module 204 ignores the stop record completely andproceeds to step 460 where the business logic module 204 moves on toconsider any other stop records associated with the particular pointaddress.

It should be noted that, where the business logic module 204 “ignores” aparticular record, it may not store the one or more geocode samplesassociated with the record in the weighted geocode sample repository224, or it may store the one or more geocode samples in the repositorywith a weight of zero. If, however, at step 410, at least one packagerecord for a particular stop does not have an ignore code associatedwith it, then the business logic module 204 proceeds to step 415 wherethe business logic module 204 selects a trigger event record from theplurality of trigger event records that may be associated with the stoprecord.

As described above, in one embodiment, the LDS 23 may filter or weightgeocode samples based on the “age” of the geocode reading (e.g., the GPSreading) at the time that the reading was recorded in response to thetrigger event. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, eachtrigger event record includes a timestamp indicating the time at whichthe GPS reading was taken and a timestamp indicating the time when thetrigger event occurred (i.e, the time that the GPS reading was recordedin association with the trigger event). Although a GPS reading ispreferably taken simultaneously with the trigger event, in someinstances the portable device may be unable to receive a GPS signal atall times. As such, the portable device may be configured toperiodically capture GPS readings and associate the last captured GPSreading with the trigger event if a current GPS reading is unavailable.

Therefore, in one embodiment, at step 420, the business logic module 204considers whether the GPS reading was captured at the same time that theassociated trigger event occurred. If the GPS reading was captured atthe same time that the trigger event occurred, then the business logicmodule 204 proceeds to step 425 where the module 204 designates the GPSrecord as type “A” record. If the GPS reading was not captured at thesame time that the trigger event occurred, the business logic module 204proceeds to step 430, where the business logic module 204 considerswhether the GPS reading was captured within a predefined time of thetrigger event. If the GPS reading was captured within the predefinedtime of the trigger event, then the business logic module 204 proceedsto step 435 where it assigns type “near A” to the GPS record. If,however, the GPS reading was not captured within the predefined time ofthe trigger event, then the business logic module 204 proceeds to step440 where it assigns type “V” to the GPS record. At step 450, thebusiness logic module 204 then weights the geocode sample associatedwith the trigger event based on the type of GPS record (e.g., “A,” “nearA,” or “V”). For example, in one embodiment, the business logic module204 is configured to weight a geocode samples having a type “A” geocoderecord higher than a geocode sample having a type “near-A” geocoderecord, and is configured to weight a geocode sample having a type“near-A” geocode record higher than a geocode sample having a type “V”geocode record.

Although FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate an embodiment of the inventionwhere the type of geocode reading (e.g., GPS reading) is determined bythe business logic module 204 using timestamp information received fromthe portable device 30, in other embodiments, the type of geocodereading may be determined by other entities and the type of geocodereading may be included in the trigger event data table used by thebusiness logic module 204 to weight the geocode samples. For example,the portable device 30 may be configured to assign a type indicator toeach GPS record based on the age of the GPS reading at the time of thetrigger event. Such a type indicator may then be associated with the GPSrecord and communicated to the business logic module 204 for use infiltering and/or weighting the geocode samples.

At step 450, the business logic module 204 may also be configured toweight the geocode sample based on the type of trigger event thatprompted the recording of the geocode sample. As described above, in anexemplary embodiment, a geocode sample is recorded by a portablecomputing device 30 during the delivery of an item in response tocertain predefined trigger events. For example, the trigger events mayinclude: (1) the first package scan event for a stop; (2) an electronicsignature capture event (e.g., the signature of a consignee); (3) aninput to the device indicating that the driver has left a particularpackage at the current location (e.g., without capturing a signature);and (4) an input or event that indicates to the device that the currentstop is now complete. In one embodiment, a geocode sample captured inresponse to a signature capture event is weighted higher than a geocodesample captured in response to the other events since a geocode reading,such as a GPS reading, captured when a consignee is signing for an itemis more likely to be captured at a location correctly associated withthe delivery address. In other embodiments, where geocode samples may bereceived from other sources, the business logic module 204 may beconfigured to weight the geocode samples based on the source thatprovides the geocode sample.

At step 455, the business logic module 204 considers whether there areother trigger event records associated with the stop record. If thereare other trigger event records, the business logic module 204 returnsto step 415 and weights or otherwise processes the geocode samplesassociated with the next trigger event record, as described above. Ifthere are no more trigger event records associated with the stop record,the business logic module 204 proceeds to step 460 to determine whetherthere are other stop records associated with the current point address.If there are other stop records, the business logic module 204 returnsto step 405 and processes the next stop record as described above. Ifthere are no other stop records associated with the current pointaddress, the business logic module 204 proceeds to step 465 and storesthe weighted geocode samples (e.g., weighted GPS latitude and longitudedata) in the weighted geocode sample repository 224. The business logicmodule 204 may also be configured to, at step 470, delete the portabledevice information history data stored in the repository 222 (although,as described above, the address table may be retained). The businesslogic module 204 may then return to step 400 to process the next uniquepoint address that has new portable device information history dataassociated therewith.

The above described business logic rules used to weight the geocodesamples are examples of predefined rules that may be used to determinehow useful a specific geocode sample may be in approximating the correctlocation of a particular point address. Other business logic rules maybe used in addition to or as an alternative to the above describedrules, as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in view ofthis disclosure. In general, the business logic rules will have a largeimpact on the quality of the final reference location data. As such, thebusiness logic rules and the weighting factors applied by the rules aregenerally configured to be easily modifiable and externallyconfigurable. Table 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a configurationtable used to turn exemplary business logic rules on and off and to setthe weighting factors used by some of the business logic rules to weightthe various geocode samples.

TABLE 1 Component Section Config Entry Default value Range BusinessProcess DeleteDeviceHistoryRecords TRUE(1) 0.1 Logic DeleteLoadFilesTRUE(1) 0.1 Sample IgnoreManAG TRUE(1) 0.1 Selection MaxTimeSinceLastA300  0-32767 StatusCodeToIgnoreList CW, BI, G3, L1, AY, FO, AZ, KF, S6,45, C4, KL, D9, C5, KG, MF, E4, KM, C6, A7, A8, A9, AA, 95, C7, AQ, AB,DI, 51, KZ, 52, AC, AE, AD, AF, FZ, CI, 48, KX, 49, KC, KV, C8, 46, 47,C9, CA, CU, CV, KI, ZZ, HM, G6, KK, E2, B1, AS, AR, UA, KJ, AX, F6, DJ,S7, KN Sample NearATimeSinceLastA  15  0-32767 WeightingWeights-DriverRelease 60, 30, 2 ‘A’ record weight  60 0-255 ‘Near-A’record weight  30 0-255 ‘V’ record weight  2 0-255 Weights-PScan 30, 20,1 ‘A’ record weight  30 0-255 ‘Near-A’ record weight  20 0-255 ‘V’record weight  1 0-255 Weights-Signature 240, 120, 6 ‘A’ record weight240 0-255 ‘Near-A’ record weight 120 0-255 ‘V’ record weight  6 0-255Weights-StopComplete 30, 20, 1 ‘A’ record weight  30 0-255 ‘Near-A’record weight  20 0-255 ‘V’ record weight  1 0-255

Referring to Table 1, the DeleteDeviceHistoryRecords entry can be eithertrue or false and instructs the system as to whether the portable deviceinformation history records 222 should be deleted once they have beenused to create weighted geocode samples stored in the weighted geocodesample repository 224. The DeleteLoadFiles entry can be either true orfalse and instructs the system as to whether the temporary load filesshould be deleted. The IgnoreManAG entry can be either true (on) orfalse (off) and instructs the system as to whether trigger recordshaving addresses that were entered manually should be ignored. Thisbusiness logic rule may help reduce erroneous addresses in the LDS'sdatabases.

The MaxTimeSinceLastA is used in determining the type of geocode recordbased on the age of the geocode reading at the time that it was recordedas a geocode sample. As described above with respect to FIGS. 13A and13B, an “A” geocode record is one in which the geocode reading was acurrent reading at the time it was recorded by the portable device 30(e.g., time of the geocode reading is the same time as the time of thetrigger event that prompted the recording of the geocode reading as ageocode sample). All other geocode readings are either type “near-A” ortype “V” and are associated with a TimeSinceLastA value. TheTimeSinceLastA vaue indicates the amount of time since the “near-A” or“V” type readings were current readings (e.g., the “age” of the readingsat the time that the readings were recorded as geocode samples). If theTimeSinceLastA value for a geocode record is greater than or equal tothe MaxTimeSinceLastA value, then the geocode record is ignored (e.g.,provided zero weight). This configuration entry may improve the accuracyof the reference location data by ignoring geocode samples where thegeocode reading (e.g., the GPS reading) was taken far back in time (andpresumably distance) before the trigger event.

The StatusCodeTolgnoreList entry is a list of status codes that may beassociated with the portable device history records. The status codesgenerally relate to contextual information about the delivery or pickupduring which the associated geocode sample(s) were generated. If each ofthe package records associated with a current stop record has at leastone of the listed status codes, then the stop is ignored (e.g., thegeocode samples may be provided with a zero weight). In general, suchstatus codes are generated by the delivery system and indicate somethingabout the delivery or pickup that may make the geocode sampleunreliable. For example, status codes that indicate that a delivery wasunsuccessful, such as, for example, “No such street,” “Missed,” and“Need Apartment,” may be included on this list.

The NearATimeSinceLastA is used to divide the non-“A” type geocoderecords into “near-A” and “V” type records. If the TimeSinceLastA valuefor a geocode record is less than or equal to the NearATimeSinceLastAvalue, then the geocode record is considered to be a “near-A” type ofrecord. Dividing the geocode samples based on the “age” of the geocodereadings associated with each geocode sample allows the geocode samplesto be weighted based on the age of the readings (and the assumedaccuracy of the readings). For example, “A” records generally receivemore weight than “near-A” records, which generally receive more weightthan “V” records.

The remaining configuration entries in Table 1 are assigning relativeweight values to each of the geocode samples based on the trigger typeand the age of the geocode readings. The DriverRelease entries apply theassociated weight factors to geocode samples that were captured inresponse to the driver indicating that an item was left at the presumeddelivery address (e.g., without a signature). The PScan entries applythe associated weight factors to geocode samples that were captured inresponse to the driver scanning the package or other item during adelivery (or pickup). The Signature entries apply the associated weightfactors to geocode samples that were captured in response to someone atthe presumed delivery address signing for the item. The StopCompleteentries apply the associated weight factors to geocode samples that werecaptured in response to the driver indicating that a stop is complete.In general, the Signature trigger event is assumed to generate moreaccurate geocode samples than the other trigger events. As such, thegeocode samples captured in response to a trigger event are generallyweighted higher than geocode samples captured in response to othertrigger events. These weights may be further based on the type ofgeocode record, as illustrated in Table 1.

It should be noted that, as used herein, weighting a sample or otherrecord with a weight factor of zero is considered equivalent to thebusiness logic module and/or the OR algorithm module “ignoring” thesample or record.

FIG. 14 provides a flow chart that illustrates the process of applyingstatistical algorithms to a group of geocode samples associated with aunique point address in order to generate a reference location data setfor the unique point address, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The process may be executed by the LDS 23 and, inparticular, by the OR algorithm module 206 of the LDS 23.

At step 500, the OR algorithm module 206 receives weighted geocodesamples for a particular unique point address for which the geocodesamples have changed (e.g., been added or otherwise modified). Forexample, the OR algorithm module 206 may receive the weighted geocodesamples from the geocode samples processed by the business logic module204 and stored in the weighted geocode sample data repository 224. Atstep 505, the OR algorithm module 206 may determine whether there areenough quality geocode samples associated with the point address inorder to compute reference location data for the point address. Forexample, in one embodiment, the OR algorithm module 206 may require morethan a predefined number of geocode samples with weights greater thanzero or some other predefined number before calculating referencelocation data. If the OR algorithm module 206 determines that there arenot enough quality geocode samples, no new reference location data iscomputed for the address, as indicated by step 510, and the modulereturns to step 500 where weighted geocode samples are received foranother address.

However, if the OR algorithm module 206 determines that there are enoughquality geocode samples to compute reference location data for theaddress, then the OR algorithm module 206 proceeds to step 514. At step514, the OR algorithm module 206 runs a Nearest Neighbor algorithm inorder to eliminate outliers from the set of geocode samples associatedwith the point address. As will be described in greater detail below, inaddition to removing outlying geocode samples from the set of geocodesamples, the nearest neighbor algorithm may also involve generating afirst mean location point by computing an average (weighted or simple)location (e.g., an average latitude and longitude) from the non-outlyinggeocode samples. The OR algorithm module 206 may then use thenon-outlying geocode samples and the first mean location point as inputfor the algorithm used in step 525 to generate reference location datafor the point address.

In one embodiment, the first mean location point calculated in step 514may be used as the reference geocode for the point address. In otherembodiments, however, the geocode samples undergo further processing,before a reference geocode and/or a zone of confidence is generated forthe point address. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, at step525 the OR algorithm runs a “Circle of Confidence” (COC) algorithm inorder to generate the reference geocode and the radius of a COC locatedaround the reference geocode for the point address.

Once new reference location data is generated by the OR algorithm for apoint address, in some embodiments, the OR algorithm module 206 may thenupdate the reference location data set repository 226 by adding a newdata set or by modifying an existing data set associated with the pointaddress. In the illustrated embodiment, however, in order to reduce thenumber of reference location data updates that are, in some embodiments,communicated to remote systems, the OR algorithm module 206 isconfigured to only update the reference location data set repository 226when the new reference location data set for an address would representa “significant” change over any current reference location data setstored in the repository 226 for the address. In this regard, the ORalgorithm module 206 may determine a significant change by, for example,comparing the change in latitude, change in longitude, change in meandistance, and/or change in COC radius to predefined minimum changesrequired for a reference location data set to be updated in therepository 226, as illustrated by step 550. The OR algorithm module 206may then repeat one or more of the illustrated steps for the next pointaddress for which the geocode samples have changed.

FIG. 15 shows a flow diagram that illustrates the process executed bythe OR algorithm module 206 when it runs the nearest neighbor algorithmin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated by step 515 the OR algorithm module receives geocode samplesfor a point address. As described earlier, in one embodiment thesegeocode samples are weighted relative to each other. At step 516, the ORalgorithm module determines a number “k” for the point address. At step517, the OR algorithm module selects a first geocode sample of thegeocode samples received for the given point address. At step 518, theOR algorithm determines the k nearest geocode samples to the selectedgeocode sample. The k nearest geocode samples are then used to calculatea score for the selected geocode sample, the score indicative of thedensity of neighboring sample points.

The number k may vary for each point address and may be determined, instep 516, based on the number of geocode samples received for that pointaddress. The greater the number of geocode samples received for thepoint address, the higher the number k may be for that point address.However, this number k may be limited to a predefined maximum number ofnearest neighbors. This maximum number of nearest neighbors may bespecified through a parameter referred to herein as “MaxNN.” In such anembodiment, the k nearest neighbors are the geocode samples locatednearest to the selected geocode sample, up to the maximum number ofnearest neighbors. For example, where the initially calculated value ofk is 12 for a given point address, and where the MaxNN value is 10, thefinal assigned k-number for the all geocode samples associated with thatpoint address would be 10 and, at step 518, the OR algorithm modulewould determine the 10 nearest neighbors for each of the selectedgeocode samples associated with the selected point address. However,where the initially calculated value for k is only 8 for that pointaddress, the final assigned k-number for all geocodes associated withthat point address would be 8, and, at step 518, the OR algorithm woulddetermine the 8 nearest neighbors for each of the selected geocodesamples associated with the selected point address. More specifically,in one embodiment, step 518 involves the OR algorithm module determiningthe distance that each geocode sample associated with the point addressis from the selected geocode sample. The OR algorithm module may thendetermine which geocode samples are the k nearest neighbors from theselected geocode sample.

At step 519, the OR algorithm module computes the sum of the squares ofthe distances between the selected geocode sample and each of its knearest neighbors. The OR algorithm module then computes the square rootof this sum in order to generate the “NN score” for the selected geocodesample. A geocode sample's NN score is indicative of the density ofother geocode sample points located around the selected geocode point. Arelatively low NN score indicates a relatively high density ofneighboring sample points, while a relatively high NN score indicates arelatively low density of neighboring sample points. Thus, if a geocodesample is an outlier, the geocode sample will tend to have a lowerdensity, and hence a higher NN score, compared to other geocode samplesthat are not outliers.

Once the NN score for the selected geocode sample has been calculated,the OR algorithm may then determine if there are any other geocodesamples associated with the point address for which an NN score has yetto be calculated, as illustrated by step 520 in the flow diagram. Ifthere are additional geocode samples associated with the point addressthat need to have NN scores computed for them, the OR algorithm moduleselects, at step 521, another geocode sample associated with the pointaddress and returns to step 518 to begin the process of computing the NNscore for the selected geocode sample. This process continues until theOR algorithm module has computed NN scores for each geocode sample ofthe received geocode samples associated with a particular point address.

Once NN scores have been computed for all of the received geocodesamples associated with a point address, the OR algorithm module thencompares all of the received geocode samples and their respective NNscores in order to determine which geocode samples are likely to beoutliers. In a preferred embodiment, the outlier geocode samples for agiven point address are determined by comparing the NN scores of thegeocode samples associated with the point address to the other geocodesamples associated with the same point address. In this regard, asillustrated by step 522 of the flow diagram, the OR algorithm module maybe configured to determine the NN score at a predefined percentile ofthe NN scores of the geocode samples associated with the point address.The OR algorithm may then, at step 523, compare the NN score of eachgeocode sample to the predefined percentile NN score and, if the NNscore of a geocode sample is higher than the predefined percentile NNscore, mark the geocode sample as an outlier. For example, in oneembodiment, the OR algorithm module determines the median value of allof the NN scores associated with the received geocode samples for aparticular point address. In one such embodiment, the geocode sampleshaving an NN score exceeding the median NN score may be marked asoutliers. In another such embodiment, only the geocode samples having anNN score exceeding the median NN score by a predefined factor are deemedto be outliers. This factor may be specified through a predefined“OutlierFactor” parameter. In one embodiment, the percentile at whichthe predefined percentile NN score is computed is specified by apredefined “Quartile” parameter. For example, if the Quartile parameteris set to a value of “1,” the value of the NN score at the firstquartile of the NN scores (i.e., the NN score value where 25% of thegeocode samples have NN scores at or below the given value) is computed.If the Quartile parameter is set to a value of “2,” then the median NNscore value for the geocode samples is computed.

Once the OR algorithm module has determined which geocode samplesassociated with a point address are outliers, then the OR algorithmmodule may compute a mean location point for the point address using thegeocode samples that are not considered outliers, as illustrated by step524. The averaging algorithm used by the OR algorithm module to computethe mean location point may involve a simple averaging algorithm or aweighted averaging algorithm. For example, a weighted averagingalgorithm may use the weights assigned to the geocode samples by thebusiness logic module 204 to compute a weighted average. Where eachgeocode sample includes longitude and latitude data, the averaging mayinclude averaging the longitude data to generate a mean longitude andaveraging the latitude data to generate a mean latitude. Thus, in oneexemplary embodiment, the mean location point includes a mean longitudeand a mean latitude. Therefore, in general, the OR algorithm moduleexecuting the nearest neighbor algorithm receives a plurality of geocodesamples for a particular point address and outputs a mean location pointfor the point address and an indication of which geocode samplesassociated with the point address are considered outliers.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first mean locationpoint generated from the nearest neighbor algorithm in step 514 of FIG.14 is used as the reference geocode for the point address. In such anembodiment, a circle of confidence may be determined by using apredefined radius around the reference geocode. However, in a preferredembodiment, output of the nearest neighbor algorithm is furtherprocessed by the COC algorithm in order to generate the referencelocation data (e.g., a reference geocode and a circle of confidence) forthe point address, as illustrated by step 525 of FIG. 14.

In this regard, FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram that illustrates theprocess executed by the OR algorithm module when it runs the COCalgorithm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. TheOR algorithm module uses the first mean location point generated by thenearest neighbor algorithm in step 514 of FIG. 14, along with thegeocode samples that were deemed not to be outliers, as input for theCOC algorithm, as illustrated by step 526 of FIG. 16.

As illustrated by step 527 of the flow diagram, the OR algorithm modulethen computes a “first mean distance” that represents the averagedistance that the geocode samples are located from the first meanlocation point. The mean distance may be calculated using a simple or aweighted average.

At step 528, the OR algorithm module may compare the mean distance to apredefined maximum allowable mean distance. The predefined maximum meandistance may be specified by a predefined “MaxMDWO” (maximum meandistance without outliers) parameter. If the mean distance is greaterthan the maximum allowable mean distance, then the OR algorithm modulemay consider the geocode samples to be too widespread for the generationof accurate or useful reference location data. In such a situation, nonew reference location data is computed for the particular pointaddress, as illustrated by step 529, and the OR algorithm returns tostep 526 to begin the process of creating new reference location datafor the next point address. However, if the calculated mean distance isless than or equal to the predefined maximum allowable mean distance,then the OR algorithm module 206 may proceed to step 530.

At step 530, the OR algorithm is configured to ignore geocode samplesthat are a greater distance from the first mean location point than theproduct of the calculated mean distance and a predefined “scrub” factor.

At step 531, the OR algorithm module uses the remaining geocode samples(e.g., the geocode samples that were not ignored in step 530) as inputto a second execution of the nearest neighbor algorithm described inFIG. 15 in order to calculate a second mean location point.

At step 532 of the illustrated embodiment, the OR algorithm module 206may use the second mean location point as the reference geocode. The ORalgorithm module may further calculate the radius of a circle ofconfidence (COC) as a predefined base COC radius plus the product of themean distance and a COC scale factor. The reference geocode may beconsidered to be the center of the COC.

As with the business logic rules, the statistical algorithms and variouspredefined parameters used during the generation of the referencelocation data will often have a large impact on the quality of the finalreference location data. As such, the algorithms and the predefinedparameters used in the processes described above are preferably easilymodifiable and externally configurable. Table 2 shows an exemplaryembodiment of a configuration table used to turn algorithms on and offand to set the various predefined factors used by some of the algorithmsdescribed above, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

TABLE 2 Component Section Config Entry Default value Range OR ProcessProcessAll FALSE(0) 0.1 Algorithm DeleteLoadFiles TRUE(1) 0.1Algorithm_Assembly Algorithm1 MinGeoSamp 2 0-32767 Nearest MaxNN 100-32767 Neighbor OutlierFactor 2.5 double Calculation Quartile 2.0double Ref. MaxMDWO 500 double Geocode MinCOCRadius 250 double and COCBaseCOCRadius 150 double Calculation COCScaleFactor 1.25 doubleSampleDistToMeanScrubFactor 3.0 double Reference ChangeThresholdLatLong0 double Data ChangeThresholdMeanDist 0 0-32767 GenerationChangeThresholdRadius 0 0-32767 Sample MaxGeoSampToKeep 40 0-32767Cleanup MinGeoSampAgeBeforeDelete 30 0-32767 AbsoluteMaxSamples 10000-32767

The ProcessAll entry of Table 2 instructs the OR algorithm module 206whether to process geocode samples for all of the unique point addressesthat have geocode samples stored in the geocode sample data repository224 or whether to process only the geocode samples for those pointaddresses that have new or modified data in the repository 224. TheProcessAll entry may either be true (i.e., process data for alladdresses) or false (i.e., process data only for those addresses havingnew or modified data). The DeleteLoadFiles entry of Table 2 can beeither true or false and instructs the system as to whether thetemporary load files should be deleted.

The Algorithm_Assembly entry of Table 2 is the name of the .NETAssembly, such as a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), containingimplementation of the logic algorithm. This entry allows adding a new ORalgorithm by putting a new DLL name in the configuration entry andthereby installing a new DLL.

The MinGeoSamp entry of Table 2 indicates to the OR algorithm module 206a minimum number of geocode samples needed to perform the computationsused to generate the reference location data. This may be based on allgeocode samples stored in the geocode sample data repository 224 or onlyon the samples in the repository that are weighted above some predefinedweight value. For example, in one embodiment, the MinGeoSamp value iscompared to the number of non-zero weighted samples in the repository224. This parameter may be used in step 505 of FIG. 14, as describedabove.

The MaxNN, OutlierFactor, and Quartile entries are used to controlaspects of the Nearest Neighbor algorithm. More specifically, the MaxNNvalue represents the maximum number of nearest neighbors that areconsidered for a geocode sample when generating the NN score for thegeocode sample. This process is described above in reference to step 516of FIG. 15. Use of the OutlierFactor and the Quartile parameters, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, are describedabove in reference to steps 522 and 523 of FIG. 15.

The MaxMDWO, MinCOCRadius, BaseCOCRadius, COCScaleFactor, andSampleDistToMeanScrubFactor entries are used by the OR algorithm duringcalculation of the reference geocode and a circle of confidence (COC)about the reference geocode. The MaxMDWO entry identifies a maximum meandistance without outlier samples allowable for the reference locationdata to be generated. The MaxMDWO may be used, for example, as thepredefined maximum mean distance described above in reference to step528 of FIG. 16. If the mean distance of the geocode samples from themean location point after eliminating outlying samples is greater thanthis maximum mean distance value, then the samples may be considered toowidespread for an accurate reference location data set to be generatedfor the associated point address.

The MinCOCRadius entry identifies a minimum COC radius for the referencelocation data sets. This value acknowledges the imprecision caused byday to day variations in such variables as a driver's delivery or pickupmethods and the quality of GPS, or other geocode, readings.

The BaseCOCRadius entry identifies a base radius used in the calculationof the COC radius, as described, for example, in reference to step 532of FIG. 16. This value also acknowledges the imprecision in therepeatability of the GPS readings. Similarly, the COCScaleFactor is usedin the calculation of the COC radius, for example, as described above inreference to step 532 of FIG. 16. This value acknowledges theimprecision in the OR algorithm itself. The SampleDistToMeanScrubFactorvalue is the “scrub” factor used, for example, as described above inreference to step 530 of FIG. 16.

As described above, in some embodiments, the OR algorithm module 206 mayonly update the reference location data set repository 226 when the newreference location data set for an address would represent a“significant” change over the current reference location data set storedin the repository 226 for the address. In this regard, the OR algorithmmodule 206 may determine a significant change by, for example, comparingthe change in latitude, change in longitude, change in mean distance,and/or change in COC radius to predefined minimum changes required for areference location data set to be updated in the repository 226. TheChangeThresholdLatLong value is the change in the latitude or longituderequired before a change to a reference location data set is made inrepository 226. The ChangeThresholdMeanDist value is the change in thecomputed mean distance required before a change to a reference locationdata set is made in repository 226. The ChangeThresholdRadius value isthe change in the COC radius required before a change to a referencelocation data set is made in repository 226.

Although not shown in FIG. 14, the OR algorithm module 206 may also beconfigured to cleanup the geocode sample repository 224 by deletinggeocode samples associated with a point address when the number ofgeocodes associated with the address is greater than a predefinedmaximum number. In this regard, the MaxGeoSampToKeep value is themaximum number of geocode samples that are allowed to be kept in theweighted geocode sample repository 224. In one embodiment, the sampleshaving the lowest weights are the first to be deleted. If two sampleshave the same weight, then the oldest sample is deleted first. TheMinGeoSampAgeBeforeDelete value is the minimum age (e.g., in days) of ageocode sample before these delete rules can apply to a geocode sample.Since some locations may have multiple delivery points (e.g., a stripmall), this value helps to retain multiple samples from each deliverypoint so that a COC can be generated that is large enough to cover allof the delivery points. The AbsoluteMaxSamples value overrides theMinLocSampAgeBeforeDelete value in order to prevent overloading problemscaused by too many sample points for a single location. For example,some locations, such as a large building, may have a very large numberof delivery points each day.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent invention, particularly any “preferred embodiments,” are merelypossible examples of the implementations, merely set forth for a clearunderstanding of the principles of the invention. Variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of theinvention without departing substantially from the spirit of theprinciples of the invention. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of the disclosure andpresent invention and protected by the following claims.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thisinvention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

1. A method of generating reference location data for a plurality ofunique point addresses, the method comprising: receiving, via one ormore processors, a plurality of geocode samples associated with a uniquepoint address, wherein each geocode sample is captured during a deliveryor a pickup of an item addressed to or from the unique point address;and computing, via the one or more processors, a reference geocode forthe unique point address based on at least some of the plurality ofgeocode samples.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:assigning, via the one or more processors, the reference geocode to theunique point address.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of thegeocode samples are captured in response to one of a plurality of typesof trigger events associated with the delivery or pickup process, andwherein computing the reference geocode based on the plurality ofgeocode samples comprises: weighting the plurality of geocode samplesbased on the type of trigger event associated with each geocode sample.4. The method of claim 1, wherein each geocode sample comprises latitudeand longitude data, and wherein computing the reference geocode based onthe plurality of geocode samples comprises: calculating a referencelatitude and a reference longitude using the latitude and longitude dataof at least some of the plurality of geocode samples.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the geocode samples comprise latitude andlongitude data, and wherein computing the reference geocode based on theplurality of geocode samples comprises: weighting at least some of theplurality of geocode samples relative to each other based on one or morepredefined rules; and computing a mean latitude and a mean longitude byusing the relative weights of the plurality of geocode samples tocompute a weighted average of the latitude and longitude data associatedwith at least some of the plurality of geocode samples.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein computing the reference geocode based on the pluralityof geocode samples comprises: ignoring outlying geocode samples from theplurality of geocode samples; and averaging the remaining geocodesamples of the plurality of geocode samples in order to generate amean-location-without-outliers point for the unique point address. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein ignoring outlying geocode samplescomprises: generating, for each geocode sample, a measure of the densityof other geocode samples located in an area around the geocode sample;and determining outlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocodesamples based on the measure of the density.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein computing the reference geocode based on the plurality ofgeocode samples comprises: averaging the plurality of geocode samples inorder to generate a mean location point; computing a mean distance byaveraging the distances that each geocode sample is from the meanlocation point; ignoring geocode samples of the plurality of geocodesamples that are a greater distance from the mean location point than afactor of the computed mean distance; and averaging any non-ignoredgeocode samples in order to generate the reference geocode.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: generating a circle ofconfidence, wherein generating a circle of confidence comprises: usingthe reference geocode as the center of the circle of confidence; andcomputing a radius of the circle of confidence by providing a predefinedbase radius and adding the base radius to the product of the meandistance and a predefined radius scale factor.
 10. A system forgenerating reference location data for a plurality of unique pointaddresses, the system comprising: a geocode sample receiving moduleconfigured to receive a plurality of geocode samples associated with aunique point address, each geocode sample having been captured during adelivery or a pickup of an item addressed to or from the unique pointaddress; and a reference location data generating system having one ormore memory storage areas and one or more processors configured to:compute a reference geocode for the unique point address based on theplurality of geocode samples.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein thereference location data generating system is further configured toassign the reference geocode to the unique point address.
 12. The systemof claim 10, wherein each of the geocode samples were captured inresponse to one of a plurality of types of trigger events associatedwith a delivery or pickup process, and wherein the reference locationdata generating system is configured to compute the reference geocode byweighting the plurality of geocode samples based on the type of triggerevent associated with each geocode sample.
 13. The system of claim 10,wherein each geocode sample comprises latitude and longitude data, andwherein the reference location data generating system comprises: analgorithm module configured to compute the reference geocode bycalculating a reference latitude and a reference longitude using thelatitude and longitude data of at least some of the plurality of geocodesamples.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the geocode samples arerecorded by a geocode sensor of a portable computing device, the geocodesensor sensing geocode information from a geocode system, wherein theportable computing device is configured to capture a geocode sample byrecording the sensed geocode information in response to at least onepredefined trigger event occurring during the delivery or pickup, andwherein the reference location data generating system comprises: abusiness logic module configured to weight at least some of the geocodesamples relative to each other based on an amount of time between whenthe geocode sensor sensed the geocode information and when the triggerevent occurred.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the geocodesamples comprise latitude and longitude data, and wherein the referencelocation data generating system comprises: a business logic moduleconfigured to weight at least some of the plurality of geocode samplesrelative to each other based on one or more predefined rules; and analgorithm module configured to compute a mean latitude and a meanlongitude by using the relative weights of the plurality of geocodesamples to compute a weighted average of the latitude and longitude dataassociated with at least some of the plurality of geocode samples. 16.The system of claim 10, wherein the reference location data generatingsystem comprises: an algorithm module configured to: ignore outlyinggeocode samples from the plurality of geocode samples; and average theremaining geocode samples of the plurality of geocode samples in orderto generate a mean-location-without-outliers point for the unique pointaddress.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the algorithm module isfurther configured to: generate, for each geocode sample, a measure ofthe density of other geocode samples located in an area around thegeocode sample; and determine outlying geocode samples from theplurality of geocode samples based on the measure of the density. 18.The system of claim 10, wherein the reference location data generatingsystem comprises: an algorithm module configured to: average theplurality of geocode samples in order to generate a mean location point;compute a mean distance by averaging the distances that each geocodesample is from the mean location point; ignore geocode samples of theplurality of geocode samples that are a greater distance from the meanlocation point than a factor of the computed mean distance; and averageany non-ignored geocode samples in order to generate the referencegeocode.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the reference location datagenerating system is further configured to generate a circle ofconfidence, and wherein the algorithm module is configured to: use thereference geocode as the center of the circle of confidence; and computea radius of the circle of confidence by providing a predefined baseradius and adding the base radius to the product of the mean distanceand a predefined radius scale factor.
 20. The system of claim 10,wherein the reference location data generating system comprises: a getdata module configured to reformat geocode sample data received by thegeocode sample receiving module; a business logic module configured toapply predefined business logic rules to the geocode sample data inorder to generate a weighted database of geocode samples, each geocodesample weighted based on the predefined business logic rules; analgorithm module configured to apply statistical algorithms to theplurality of weighted geocode samples in order to generate the referencegeocode; and a communication module for providing reference data to oneor more other systems.
 21. A computer program product for generatingreference location data for a plurality of unique point addresses, thecomputer program product comprising at least one computer-readablestorage medium having computer-readable program code portions storedtherein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: anexecutable portion configured for receiving a plurality of geocodesamples associated with a unique point address, wherein each geocodesample is captured during a delivery or a pickup of an item addressed toor from the unique point address; and an executable portion configuredfor computing a reference geocode for the unique point address based onthe plurality of geocode samples.
 22. The computer program product ofclaim 21, further comprising: an executable portion configured forassigning the reference geocode to the unique point address.
 23. Thecomputer program product of claim 21, wherein each of the geocodesamples are captured in response to one of a plurality of types oftrigger events associated with the delivery or pickup process, andwherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise: anexecutable portion configured for weighting the plurality of geocodesamples based on the type of trigger event associated with each geocodesample.
 24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein eachgeocode sample comprises latitude and longitude data, and wherein thecomputer-readable program code portions further comprise: an executableportion configured for calculating a reference latitude and a referencelongitude using the latitude and longitude data of at least some of theplurality of geocode samples.
 25. The computer program product of claim21, wherein the geocode samples are recorded by a geocode sensor of aportable computing device, wherein the geocode sensor senses geocodeinformation from a geocode system, wherein the portable computing devicecaptures a geocode sample by recording the sensed geocode information inresponse to at least one predefined trigger event occurring during thedelivery or pickup, and wherein the computer-readable program codeportions further comprise: an executable portion configured forweighting at least some of the geocode samples relative to each otherbased on an amount of time between when the geocode sensor sensed thegeocode information and when the trigger event occurred.
 26. Thecomputer program product of claim 21, wherein each of the geocodesamples comprise latitude and longitude data, and wherein thecomputer-readable program code portions further comprise: an executableportion configured for weighting at least some of the plurality ofgeocode samples relative to each other based on one or more predefinedrules; and an executable portion configured for computing a meanlatitude and a mean longitude by using the relative weights of theplurality of geocode samples to compute a weighted average of thelatitude and longitude data associated with at least some of theplurality of geocode samples.
 27. The computer program product of claim21, further comprising: an executable portion configured for ignoringoutlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocode samples; and anexecutable portion configured for averaging the remaining geocodesamples of the plurality of geocode samples in order to generate amean-location-without-outliers point for the unique point address. 28.The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising: anexecutable portion configured for generating, for each geocode sample, ameasure of the density of other geocode samples located in an areaaround the geocode sample; and an executable portion configured fordetermining outlying geocode samples from the plurality of geocodesamples based on the measure of the density.
 29. The computer programproduct of claim 21, further comprising: an executable portionconfigured for averaging the plurality of geocode samples in order togenerate a mean location point; an executable portion configured forcomputing a mean distance by averaging the distances that each geocodesample is from the mean location point; an executable portion configuredfor ignoring geocode samples of the plurality of geocode samples thatare a greater distance from the mean location point than a factor of thecomputed mean distance; and an executable portion configured foraveraging any non-ignored geocode samples in order to generate thereference geocode.
 30. The computer program product of claim 29, furthercomprising: an executable portion configured for generating a circle ofconfidence, wherein the seventh code logic comprises: an executableportion configured for using the reference geocode as the center of thecircle of confidence; and an executable portion configured for computinga radius of the circle of confidence by providing a predefined baseradius and adding the base radius to the product of the mean distanceand a predefined radius scale factor.